This introductory adult 8 classes course offers hands on practical experience working with honeybees and their hives. The course unfolds over the beekeeping season with one class per month with the first class in April as the season starts, leading up to doing a honey harvest in September with the last class in November to wrap and prepare the hives for the winter. Cost is $450 +HST

Spring Hive check - May 21, 2023 from 11AM to 2PM

Looking to identify the 3 different castes of honeybees. If the queen is healthy and laying properly. How to spot evidence of the queen bee. Her eggs and other signs to be able to spot and identify her. Classroom lesson is honeybee pollinator gardens and how honeybees see their special vision or way of seeing.

• 1 hour in classroom and 2 hours in the bee yard

Late Summer Hive Check - August 20, 2023 from 10AM to 2PM 

Arrive at 10AM if you would like to see screening of The Sacred Bee Part 1

Checking for honeybee health. Preparing the hives for honey harvesting. Using drone brood traps for mite control and other organic methods for pest control. For those interested in the spiritual dimension of honeybees an optional screening of The Sacred Bee Part 1 can be done. Duration one hour

• 2 hours in classroom and 2 hours in the bee yard

Honey Harvest - September 17, 2023 from 8:30AM to 1:30PM

Selecting frames for harvest. Pulling honey supers for harvest. Uncapping and extracting honey.

• 30 mins in classroom and 30 mins in the bee yard 4 hours harvesting honey.

Honey Jarring - October 22, 2023 from 11AM to 2PM

How to bottle and jar honey. Sterilization of containers and jars, labelling Federal, Provincial and hobby beekeeper requirements. Preparation of honey and jars for entering honey into competitions.

• 1 hour in classroom and 2 hours jarring and labelling honey.

Preparing the Honeybees for Winter - November 19 2023 from 11AM to 2PM

How to treat with oxalic acid. How to feed honeybees if necessary. How to medicate honeybees if necessary. How to wick a beehive to draw out moisture from an overwintering hive. How to wrap hives and use entrance reduces. What do the honeybees do during the winter?

• 2 hours in classroom and 1 hour in the bee yard