BEEKEEPING SCHOOL 2022
General Information
Bedford Bee Honeybee Service wants to help both indiviudals who want to care for their own honey bees as well as those who want to enjoy the experience of honey bees but want someone else to care for them. If you want to have honey bees and would like us to care for them please see our Hive Service page. For those individuals wanting to learn to care for their own honey bees we offer our beekeeping school. This is the 12th year the Beekeeping School is being offered.
The beekeeping school consists of 15 - 2.5 hour classes. The classes meet basically every two weeks throughout the summer growing season starting early April until October. Each class consists of a one hour lecture on some aspect of beekeeping followed by an hour and a half hands on session working with the live honey bees. The skills required to care for honey bees require time and practice to develop. Each class serves to reinforce what the student has learned in previous classes. Our goal is to help our students develop the needed skills in a structured and systematic way.
Prior to the pandemic of 2020, the lecture part of the class was given on the same day and at the same location as the hands-on session. In 2020 and 2021, we were forced to offer the lecture part of the school online via Zoom and the hands-on practice time on a different day. This has worked out well since the Zoom format has allowed us to record the lecture part of the class.
For 2022, we will continue this format - the lecture part of the class will be given via Zoom on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm (see schedule) and the hands-on sessions later in the week following the Zoom lecture. For those who cannot attend the live Zoom session, a recording of the lecture will be provided for your review on Thursday.
The hands-on sessions will be offered on Friday evenings at Marsh Sanctuary in Mt. Kisco, NY at 6:30pm, Sunday mornings at Greenwich Audubon in Greenwich, CT at 10:30 am, and on Tuesday evenings at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, NY at 6:30 pm. (see schedule) The same presentation will be given at each location. Students enrolling in the school are asked to pick one location as there primary hands-on session site. If, do to scheduling conflicts, a student is unable to attend the hands-on session at there primary site they are welcome to attend at one of the other two locations. For instance, if you enroll in the Sunday hands-on sessions at Greenwich Audubon but on a given Sunday you are unable to attend, you can attend the Friday evening session at the Marsh Sanctuary or the Tuesday evening session at Stone Barns instead.
All students will be asked to follow Covid-19 protocols as outlined by the hosting locations policies. Updated poliices regarding masks, vaccinations, etc. will be provided to the students throughout the summer. The first update will be provided on March 15, 2020.
Beekeeping School 2022 Schedule
Lectures - online
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM
Hands on Sessions
Marsh Sanctuary - Fridays 6:30P - 8:00P
Greenwich Audubon - Sundays 10:00A - 11:30A
Stone Barns Center - Tuesdays 6:30P - 8:00P
Lecture Hands-on
Weds Fri Sun Tues Topic
3/30 None Intro / Safety - Beekeeping Overview
4/6 4/8 4/10 4/12 Equipment / Types of Hives
4/20 4/22 4/24 4/26 Package Installation - Resources
4/27 4/29 5/1 5/3 Honey Bee Life Cycle
5/11 5/13 5/15 5/19 Honey Bee Reproduction / Swarms
5/23 5/27 5/29 5/31 Honey Bee Diseases
6/8 6/10 6/12 6/14 Colony Manipulations, Splits, Etc
6/22 6/24 6/26 6/28 Colony Collapse Disorder - Varroa Mite
7/6 7/8 7/10 7/12 Honey Harvesting
7/20 7/22 7/24 7/26 Varroa Mite Control pt 2
8/10 8/12 8/14 8/16 Small Hive Beetle Control
8/24 8/26 8/28 8/30 Dealing with Agressive Bees
9/7 9/9 9/11 9/13 Honey Bee Nutrition / Feeding Bees
9/21 9/23 9/25 9/27 Wax Moth Control
10/12 10/14 10/16 10/18 Moving hives / Winter Preparation
3/30 None Intro / Safety - Beekeeping Overview
4/6 4/8 4/10 4/12 Equipment / Types of Hives
4/20 4/22 4/24 4/26 Package Installation - Resources
4/27 4/29 5/1 5/3 Honey Bee Life Cycle
5/11 5/13 5/15 5/19 Honey Bee Reproduction / Swarms
5/23 5/27 5/29 5/31 Honey Bee Diseases
6/8 6/10 6/12 6/14 Colony Manipulations, Splits, Etc
6/22 6/24 6/26 6/28 Colony Collapse Disorder - Varroa Mite
7/6 7/8 7/10 7/12 Honey Harvesting
7/20 7/22 7/24 7/26 Varroa Mite Control pt 2
8/10 8/12 8/14 8/16 Small Hive Beetle Control
8/24 8/26 8/28 8/30 Dealing with Agressive Bees
9/7 9/9 9/11 9/13 Honey Bee Nutrition / Feeding Bees
9/21 9/23 9/25 9/27 Wax Moth Control
10/12 10/14 10/16 10/18 Moving hives / Winter Preparation
For the hands-on portion of the school sessions will be offered Friday evenings at Marsh Sanctuary (B Road, Mt. Kisco, NY off Sarles Street) at 6:30pm, Sunday mornings at Greenwich Audubon (613 Riversville Rd, Greenwich, CT) at 10:30 am, or on Tuesday evenings at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture (630 Bedford Rd, Tarrytown, NY) at 6:30 pm. (see schedule) The same presentation is given at each hands-on location. You are not expected to attend all three. We offer three different locations so that we can keep class size small enough to give each student individual attention.
At each location the students will set up a small apiary of three bee hives to work with and follow throughout the summer. One colony will be set up from a package, one from a nucleus colony, and one will be an overwintered colony. This will give students a range of experiences.
For those enrolling at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agricutlure, Maggie Schwed, the resident beekeeper at Stone Barns, has offered to provide some one on one time with her during the summer while she is working with other bee colonies located at the center. D. J. Haverkamp will also allow students who would like to shadow with him occasionally throughout the summer the opportunity to do so as well. Protective equipment consisting of a hooded bee jacket, leather gloves, smokers and hive tools will be provided for all participants. If a participant is more comfortable in their own safety gear they are free to bring their own. The use of bee jackets is required during the apiary sessions. Honey bees do sting and it is a possibility that as a participant you may be stung. Students take full responsibility for any allergic reaction that may occur. Students need to be 16 years of age or older to enroll. Minors under 16 will be allowed to attend with a parent or guardian. Couples choosing to enroll together will need to pay the enrollment fee individually. Enrollment will be limited to 12 people at each location. Upon registering you will receive an email with information about where to go and what to bring, etc. If not all of the 12 available spots are filled by April 6, we will allow late enrollment up until the Honey Bee Reproduction class on May 11th. After that, enrollment will be closed until next year. The cost for the 15 sessions is $300 for both the Zoom lectures and the hands-on sessions. The option to participate in the Zoom lectures without attending the hands-on sessions is available at a cost of $200. We accept cash, check, credit card, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. After you register we will send you and invoice with payment instructions. Your spot is not confirmed until we receive payment. To register please fill out and submit the form below. We will e-mail you with additional information and instructions for how to pay. You may also use this form to request information.
At each location the students will set up a small apiary of three bee hives to work with and follow throughout the summer. One colony will be set up from a package, one from a nucleus colony, and one will be an overwintered colony. This will give students a range of experiences.
For those enrolling at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agricutlure, Maggie Schwed, the resident beekeeper at Stone Barns, has offered to provide some one on one time with her during the summer while she is working with other bee colonies located at the center. D. J. Haverkamp will also allow students who would like to shadow with him occasionally throughout the summer the opportunity to do so as well. Protective equipment consisting of a hooded bee jacket, leather gloves, smokers and hive tools will be provided for all participants. If a participant is more comfortable in their own safety gear they are free to bring their own. The use of bee jackets is required during the apiary sessions. Honey bees do sting and it is a possibility that as a participant you may be stung. Students take full responsibility for any allergic reaction that may occur. Students need to be 16 years of age or older to enroll. Minors under 16 will be allowed to attend with a parent or guardian. Couples choosing to enroll together will need to pay the enrollment fee individually. Enrollment will be limited to 12 people at each location. Upon registering you will receive an email with information about where to go and what to bring, etc. If not all of the 12 available spots are filled by April 6, we will allow late enrollment up until the Honey Bee Reproduction class on May 11th. After that, enrollment will be closed until next year. The cost for the 15 sessions is $300 for both the Zoom lectures and the hands-on sessions. The option to participate in the Zoom lectures without attending the hands-on sessions is available at a cost of $200. We accept cash, check, credit card, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. After you register we will send you and invoice with payment instructions. Your spot is not confirmed until we receive payment. To register please fill out and submit the form below. We will e-mail you with additional information and instructions for how to pay. You may also use this form to request information.
Our school runs over the course of seven months from April to October. See schedule at the left. This allows our students to follow the life of a colony of honey bees over the course of a growing season. As we go through the season the students will learn how to care for the bees based on the needs of the bees during that time of year.
Working with the live bees is a very important part of our school experience. There are many weekend, online and one day beekeeping schools that are offered. Few of them offer time actually working with the bees. We beleive this is sets our school apart. Learning the skills required to be a successful beekeeper requires hands-on time working with the bees. Our school focuses on this so that the student can develop their skills in a guided and mentored environment.
If you're interested in beekeeping as a hobby but you're not sure if it's really for you, our school offers an excellent opportunity for you to try it out before you invest in the equipment needed to care for honey bees. You do not need anything to attend the school. Also, if you are planning on starting with honey bees this coming summer, our school is an excellant way to help you get started. You will be able to compare what is happening with the honey bees in the school apiaries and practice the skills you are learing with your bees. We are here to support you in your efforts and will make accomadations to give you the support you need. Please call to get additional details and information. (914-525-1990) You will receive an email reminder before each Zoom session with the appropriate Zoom sign-in information. After each Zoom lecture you will receive a set of review questions for you to use to test your knowledge to see how well you have learned the meaterial for that class. The schedule and list of topics covered is at the left.
Working with the live bees is a very important part of our school experience. There are many weekend, online and one day beekeeping schools that are offered. Few of them offer time actually working with the bees. We beleive this is sets our school apart. Learning the skills required to be a successful beekeeper requires hands-on time working with the bees. Our school focuses on this so that the student can develop their skills in a guided and mentored environment.
If you're interested in beekeeping as a hobby but you're not sure if it's really for you, our school offers an excellent opportunity for you to try it out before you invest in the equipment needed to care for honey bees. You do not need anything to attend the school. Also, if you are planning on starting with honey bees this coming summer, our school is an excellant way to help you get started. You will be able to compare what is happening with the honey bees in the school apiaries and practice the skills you are learing with your bees. We are here to support you in your efforts and will make accomadations to give you the support you need. Please call to get additional details and information. (914-525-1990) You will receive an email reminder before each Zoom session with the appropriate Zoom sign-in information. After each Zoom lecture you will receive a set of review questions for you to use to test your knowledge to see how well you have learned the meaterial for that class. The schedule and list of topics covered is at the left.
