Beekeeping for “Newbees” course in NYC area

[Renew Deal]

I got an email about this today. There was recently talk on DU about beekeeping, so someone might find it interesting...

On Sunday, February 6 join us for the first installment of our new beekeeping series for beginners! Dan Carr, Stone Barns livestock assistant and beekeeper, will lead you through the ins and outs of getting started with bees, including ordering equipment, obtaining a queen and a colony, and working in the hive. Most of the content of the workshop pertains to a Lanstroth ten frame box hive model, but Dan will also discuss a Kenyan standard top bar hive that you can build with a moderate level of carpentry skill and basic woodworking tools.

This workshop is the first in a four-part series for “Newbee” beekeepers. Future workshop topics may include: spring hive inspection, insecticide-free treatments for Varroa mites, supering the hive, harvesting and processing honey, and preparing for winter.

Sunday, February 6, 2011, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Adult $10.00

http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/beekeeping-for-newbees-getting-started

[kestrel91316]

1. How very cool. I wish I had a little piece of land so I could keep bees

and other livestock and have a garden and orchard........sigh.

[Denninmi]

2. I took beekeeping at Michigan State many years ago.

The last term of my senior year. I had to have an entomology elective to satisfy a requirement for my major, and that sounded like a very interesting class. It was "hands on" -- we met one day each week at the apiary in the woods south of the main campus and worked with our own hive, started from a package. I had bees for about a decade after that, then got sick of losing them all to mites. Two years ago, I decided to try again, since I still had all of the equipment. Six hives now, assuming they all make the winter. So far, so good, they were taking cleansing flights last Sunday, even though the air temp was only in the mid 20's, but it was sunny and calm.

I've been using Apiguard gel packs to treat for mites, in the mid spring and again in the fall. This product is just Oil of Thyme in an inert gel carrier. Seems to be doing a great job, as I haven't noticed any mites and the bees are going strong. Makes the hives smell nice, too, when I put it on, a pungent herbal scent.

[FedUpWithIt All]

4. Thanks for sharing the info on the Oil of Thyme.

I asked about it during the class we attended but there was no first hand info on it's effectiveness.

Good to hear it works. :hi:

[Denninmi]

5. If I weren't so lazy ...

... I could just make my own oil patties -- there are a lot of recipes on the Internet to do this -- best one is from the University of West Virginia. Pretty simple, just mixing a measured amount of the essential oil into a set amount of vegetable shortening and sugar. Then you pop those on top of the bars.

I bought the Apiguard gel from Dadant because it's all premeasured. Just pull the foil top and set the package on top of the bars. It's idiot-proof, and that's what I need.

[FedUpWithIt All]

3. We took a beekeeping course last year. It was so great and informative.

I recommend them to everyone thinking of starting a hive.


We really enjoyed the class. We even won the door prize. We missed the spring start but had planned to start this spring. Unfortunately, my husband was stung over the summer and we discovered he has a very bad honeybee allergy. :( Lips, hands and feet swelled.

I think we will probably still keep bees, eventually, but the work will have to be done by the kids and myself.