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Beginner Beekeeping
Description
Thinking about keeping honey bees but not sure how to get started? Join us for this two-part, 4-hour workshop on March 5 and April 23 to learn the basics of urban beekeeping and the steps to set up hives in your own backyard.
In the first class, you will learn:
- A brief history of the human relationship with bees
- Basic honey bee biology and life cycle
- Creating a bee-friendly habitat
- City and state regulations for keeping bees
- Hive placement and equipment
- Protective equipment and general bee safety
- Ordering bees and installing them in the hive
In the second class, you will learn:
- A month-by-month overview of the beekeeping season
- Best practices for handling bees with care and attention
- How to conduct hive inspections and what to look for
- Overview of common diseases and pests
- Deeper dives into a few key moments in a beekeeping season: swarming, re-queening, honey harvest, mite treatment, winterization
Beekeeping is a lifelong process of discovery. This class is designed to give you a broad foundation of the many considerations that go into responsible bee stewardship, as well as resources for continuing your education beyond our time together. The class will be a combination of lecture and hands-on learning.
Class dates are Saturday, March 5; 2-4 p.m. and Saturday, April 23; 2-4 p.m. at Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands. These in-person classes will take place both indoors and outdoors. The indoor portion will be in a room with an air filter and windows open for good ventilation. Class size is limited to 15 people, and we will be following current public health recommendations. Please plan to wear a mask and dress for the weather.
