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Beekeeping for Beginners – 2 Day Course 12th & 19th January
January 12 @ 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
$220 – $245
Beekeeping for Beginners
Course Duration: Two full days (8.30 am – 4.30 pm) over two consecutive Saturdays with each day involving two practical sessions at the Association’s apiary.
Venue: Jerrabomberra Wetlands (JW) Classroom and apiary, 2 Dairy Road (see details below).
Cost: For Beekeeping Association members the cost of the course will be $220 and $245 for non-members. Note: Non-Members can of course pay $40 to become a member then purchase a ticket and attend the course as a member.(Annual Association membership is $40).
Organiser and Presenter: John Grubb Contact Email: beesmarttraining@gmail.com
Course overview: With any interest that people participate in, it is essential to have sound foundations. This course is envisaged for students who wish to obtain sound knowledge and practical skills for undertaking beekeeping as a hobby whether in suburbia or on a country property. The aim of the course will be to give the complete beginner, the knowledge, skills and confidence to safely keep and manage their own hive or hives.
The course is a theoretical and hands-on insight in to the fascinating world of the European honey bee. If you are not passionate about bees now, you WILL be by the end of the course. Learn from experienced beekeepers about the different philosophies of beekeeping, don a bee suit and introduce yourself to the bees in the Association’s extensive apiary at Jerrabomberra Wetlands. You will receive hands on experience over the complete range of different bee hives at the apiary (including the ‘Flow’ hive). Importantly, you will learn about traditional and natural beekeeping and associated beekeeping management techniques.
Students will also receive the Bee AGSKILLS book (purchase price ($25). This book is an easy to follow guide for those new to beekeeping and includes topics on how to maintain hives, use a bee smoker, catch a swarm, remove and extract honey, health and pests in the hive, buying equipment, and working safely with bees.
Learning Outcomes: On completion of the course, you will have a good appreciation of what is involved in safely and successfully keeping European Honey Bees, particularly in a suburban environment. Importantly, the course will give you the confidence to take on beekeeping as hobby. You will have the basis to decide what type of hive you wish to start off with and what beekeeping apparel and beekeeping equipment best suits your needs.
Directions to JW: The JW classrooms are located on the left-hand side of Dairy Road approximately 700 metres from the Monaro Road overpass. Dairy road connects with Newcastle St, Fyshwick. Signs directing course attendees will be present at the entrance to the JW facility. (refer to enclosed Map).
What to wear and bring to the course: Regular clothing, in particular, trousers of denim type material and closed footwear. Please bring a note pad and pencil/pen and bottle for drinking water. Jacket bee suits, gloves, hive tools and smoker will be provided. However, students who own a bee suit can be used during the practical sessions. The classroom is air conditioned. Refreshments: Lunch, tea and coffee and will be provided.
Course Outline: The following topics will be covered:
- Bee biology including life cycle, communication in the hive.
- Hive and components including an overview of the different types of hives (Langstroth including Flow Hive, Warre, Kenyan Top Bar).
- Code of Practice for Beekeeping in residential areas of the ACT.
- Legal requirements associated with keeping a hive in the ACT or NSW.
- Getting started, basic gear required, and associated costs involved.
- Buying second-hand hives and equipment.
- Your first hive, hive location, handling bees, keeping placid bees and maintaining optimum bio security in the hive – Apiary.
- Obtaining Bees.
- Hazards to beekeepers.
- Moving/Relocating a hive.
- Pests and diseases.
- Seasonal activities for the ACT region including re-queening.
- Catching and hiving a swarm.
- Demonstration in frame making for both Langstroth, Warre and Kenyan Top bar frames.
- Extracting Honey for both Langstroth and Top Bar hives.
Practical Sessions: Weather permitting, four practical sessions will be undertaken on both Langstroth and Top Bar Hives (Kenyan and Warre). Students will be split into groups with all groups given the opportunity to work on Langstroth and Top Bar hives.
Session 1
Light and Extinguish a Bee Smoker
Demonstration – General Hive Management
Handling frames
Identifying honey, pollen and brood
Identifying the queen bee, workers and drones.
Session Two
Demonstration – Uniting two bee hives/Hiving a swarm
Disease inspection/ Bio Security measures
Checking for queen cells
General Hive Management
Session Three
Demonstration of Re-queening
Disease inspection/ Bio Security measures
General Hive Management
Session Four
Demonstration – Splitting a hive – creating a nucleus colony
Lifting frames of brood to make more room
Disease inspection/ Bio Security measures
General Hive Management
