Free Beginning Beekeeping Course

The course is free, and designed to supply a novice beekeeper with all the information needed to take a colony from it’s inception through its first year.  We only ask that you be interested in beekeeping.  The class is free, and open to all who are interested in beekeeping.

The classroom sessions will be held at the Houston County Farm Center (corner of Ross Clark Circle and Rt. 53 (Cottonwood Rd)), and start at 7 pm and run for about 2 hours.  The field session will start at noon at Landmark Park on US 431.  Because we will be working with active colonies, people coming to Landmark will need their beekeeping protective gear.

Recommended text:  First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane

Questions? Call Bill Miller at (334)794-8362 or e-mail him at wgmiller@aol.com

 

Feb. 23: Welcome to Beekeeping and Equipment Overview

 

            Introduction to beekeeping, equipment needs and sources, equipment assembly

            This is a hand-on session.   Bring a hammer!

 

Mar. 2: Biology 1 - The Three Castes of Bees

 

            The bees in a colony come in three basic castes – worker, drone, and queen.  We’ll discuss each caste’s unique biology, life cycle, and functions.

 

March 9: Biology 2 - The Colony as a Unit

 

            We’ll discuss how the three castes of bees form a working colony, and how the colony varies with the year depending on what is needed and what is available.

 

March 16: The Beekeeper's Year and Bee Diseases

 

            We’ll cover how a colony varies with the season and how the beekeeper deals with each season.  We’ll also cover Alabama registration requirements and common bee diseases

 

April 3: Field Session with the Landmark Hives (12 noon, protective gear required!)

 

            We’ll suit up, light smokers, and go inspect the hives at Landmark Park, emphasizing proper hive working procedure.  We’ll find the three castes of bees, and probably a few unwelcome pests too.  We’ll also start a colony by hiving a package.

Wiregrass Beekeepers Association is a non profit association formed to help area beekeepers. We are comprised of individuals and families, young and old, who share an interest in beekeeping, honey production, and other products of the beehive. Our club activities include:

* Giving beekeeping demonstrations to schools and other organizations.
* Maintaining beehives at Landmark Park.  The honey we harvest from these hives is available for sale in the country store there.   
* Annual Honey Festival at Landmark Park.
* Swarm collection. Most swarms die in the wild succumbing to disease or parasites without the care of a beekeeper.
* Educating club members to improve our beekeeping skills.
* Keeping abreast of the latest information on beekeeping and honey production.

The objectives of the Association as stated in the Constitution are:  "to assist in checking the spread of honey bee diseases; to spread and exchange information on experiences, ideas and improve methods of production; to inform the public as to the value of honey as food and the importance and value of honey bees as pollinators of plants; and to elevate the business of beekeeping to a place of eminence in the Agricultural Industry." 

Our most recent newsletter is available here.  Also in this section:  So You Think You Want to Keep Bees?  and  Swarm Collection List