Basic Beekeeping is a complete three-day course in beekeeping being held March 04 and a field day in April TBA. 

The course is presented by the Raritan Valley Beekeepers. Instructors are Master Beekeepers and other experienced beekeepers from RVBA and other NJBA branches.

Class materials are based on the curriculum developed by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Landi Simone. Successful completion of this class fulfills the education requirement necessary to legally keep bees in NJ. 

Classroom topics covered include: Honey Bee Biology, Beekeeping Equipment, Getting Started with Bees, Keeping Bees in Populated Areas, Bee Plants, Seasonal Management, Honey Bee Pests and Diseases, Harvesting Your Honey Crop, Queens, Queen Problems and Re-Queening. 

Day 3, Field Day, takes place in a local apiary and provides students with an introduction to working with the bees. Students will have the experience of opening and inspecting a beehive themselves and obtain hands-on lessons in recognizing the various components of a hive and colony as well as inspection basics such as smoker lighting, protective gear, and correct use of the hive tool.

A continental breakfast, box lunch and snacks are included in both days of classroom instruction. Students will receive a copy of the book Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, 2nd ed.(2018), and have access to all slides presented during class as well as supplementary class materials. Students will be offered the opportunity to purchase equipment at class and will be given resources for purchasing bees in spring.

Registration is required.