Certified Beekeeping Course
Description
Thoughtful Beekeeping - Introductory Beekeeping Course 18 Hours, BC Honey Producers Association Curriculum - Certificate Awarded *APPRENTICESHIP* SPRING COURSE DATES
* * PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY BEFORE CONSIDERING * * *
Interested in keeping honeybees? Wannabee a beekeeper?
This course is designed specifically to give students hands on 'open hive time' - and takes place in an 'outdoor classroom' learning environment. You will gain confidence approaching a hive, performing a hive inspection, knowing what to look for, how to problem solve in the hive... This course follows the curriculum as required by the BC Honey Producers Association (min 18 hours), and a certificate will be awarded to students who meet completion requirements.
Investment: $295 (GST included) (+eventbrite fees).
WHEN: MAY LONG WEEKEND, May 20 - 22
TIME: Saturday 9 am - 4 pm, Sunday 9am - 4pm, Monday 9 am - 1pm.
Space is LIMITED to 10 persons (at this time) to keep the learning environment intimate and to give plenty of care & attention to learners.
*Registrants can be 'older children and youth' if accompanied by a parent.
*Cost includes a copy of Beekeeping Basics, a handbook for new & emerging beekeepers, 2nd Ed. (Cameron, 2020. Bumblebee Circle Publishing) & resourceful handouts.
*Cost also includes mentorship opportunities (via phone or video conferencing) as needed throughout the beekeeping season (2023) as you get started with your hive.
NOTE: Course will take place at a private home/apiary located in Chilliwack. YOU WILL BE EMAILED COURSE LOCATION by Laura personally.
NOTE: Registration through EVENTBRITE (See the The Bumblebee Circle's list of courses available) OR by phone (604) 819-9278 OR Email: thebumblebeecircle@gmail.com
TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
•Provincial & municipal regulations/by-laws regarding beekeeping.
•Biology of bees – parts, castes, development, roles in hive.
•Getting started with bees (equipment you will need, costs, resources).
•Selection of apiary, installing nucs & packages.
•Understanding the needs & behaviors of the colony.
•Spring/summer/fall/winter management of hive(s).
•Swarm prevention, handling, catching.
•Common bee diseases & pests – how to identify & monitor.
•Diagnosis, control, treatment of diseases & pests.
•Integrated Pest Management [from organic approaches to the more aggressive).
•Bounty of the hive (honey, pollen, etc.) The importance of what bees produce for their health/reproduction/survival.
•Honey properties, extraction, storage, packaging & labeling requirements.
•Pollination & agriculture
•All about the Queen (supercedure/swarm cells/queens, installing new queens, etc.)
•Feeding the bees (sugar syrup, pollen supplements; when to feed a hive & why).
•Hive inspections: what to look for (e.g. how to identify varroa, do a count, treat), how to best manage a hive, what a healthy hive looks like, how to problem solve in the hive...
AND MORE...
* * * IMPORTANT NOTE: Must be able to take a bee sting (in the event of)! Note: Beekeeping suits/gloves will be made available for open hive time. Or bring your own suits if you have them.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Laura Cameron - Delisle is an Environmental Educator & consultant, beekeeper, Circlekeeper, community-builder, and writer living in Chilliwack, B.C. She has a Masters in Environmental Education, and a passion for honeybee education. A Certified Instructor through the BC Honey Producers Association, Laura offers (Certified) Introductory Beekeeping Courses as well as connects beekeepers with other beekeepers & beneficial educational opportunities as the Chilliwack Beekeepers Community Coordinator (2013- present). Laura is the writer of three honeybee-inspired resources: "Circlebee: A book about Circle & bees", (2013), "Beekeeping Basics: A Handbook for New & Emerging Beekeepers" (2016) and "Bee the Light" (2022). She dedicates her time, energy & heart bringing people & bees together - and spreading (Circle and) honeybee education that educes empathy, love & wonder for the natural world - starting with the tinniest bee. To learn more about her & her work visit: www.thebumblebeecircle.com
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety & health of all, all participants must be in good health on the days of the course to attend (free from cold/flu symptoms).
***IF IN THE CASE OF INCREMENTAL WEATHER (heavy/moderate rain) on the Long Weekend, a make-up OPEN HIVE TIME class will be scheduled on a future weekend (and the workshop shortened by 2 hours to accommodate) - as open hive time is highly weather dependent.
I look forward to supporting your learning journey into the bee-autiful world of honeybees, and helping you thrive as a new beekeeper!
Questions? Feel free to email or call me.
community | classes, lessons
2023-02-07