Natural Beekeeping Practices

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the basic principles and practices of natural beekeeping emphasizing organic methods. The course prepares beginning beekeepers to start or expand their own beekeeping as a hobby or small enterprise. Topics include biology and life cycle of honeybees, equipment and materials, starting a new hive, seasonal hive management practices, hive pests and diseases, harvesting and marketing. Students will have the opportunity to purchase new hives, equipment, and bees to establish their own hive in the spring. At least one field day will demonstrate installation, feeding, and early care of a new hive. Two lecture hours per week.