Here is how 2023 Bee School will go. Each class is 120 minutes with a 10 minute break in the middle. There will be lots of hands on teaching and plenty of time for questions. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early or log on by 6:30pm so we can get everyone checked in and registered.
| Session | Module | Class Time | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Jan 9, 2023 | Introductions & Overview ●The Basics Surveys Breaks Books/Door Prizes (books and beekeeping supplies to be given as door prizes) Raffles- a hive Mentors- Pat Apiary Workshops | 15 min | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |
| Mentors | 5 min | Pat Roe | |
| Henderson County CED, Henderson County Extension | 10 min | Dr. Terry Kelley | |
| Welcome to your journey into BeeKeeping- | 20 min | Kim Bailey | |
| Terminology & Parts of the Hive Demonstrations | 55 min | Shane Masterson | |
| Breakout Sessions | 15 min | Shane on zoom in front of room and Ricky and Jim in rooms 1 & 2 | |
| Two Jan 16 2023 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |
| Getting Started Packages and Nucs Where to obtain Bees How do I get them in the box. | 30 min | Jim Poe and Pat Roe | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Hive Inspections Frequency Things beekeepers should be looking for in & around the hive Record keeping | 30 Minutes | Jim Poe and Pat Roe | |
| Bear Fences-It's Electric | 20 Minutes | Will Garvey | |
| Breakout Session | 20 Minutes | Shane and Ricky rooms 1&2, Jim on zoom | |
| Three Jan 23, 2023 | Introduction | 10 Minutes | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |
| Life Cycle of the Bee Bee Biology- The Colony Superorganism Annual Cycle of the Colony The Honorary Mammal Communication Let’s Dance / 3 dances Frequencies / Vibrations Pheromones Bee Biology- The Individual Bee Life Cycle of Honey Bees Brood Development Cycle Adult Life Progression Anatomy Immune System Different Bees for Different Seasons Q & A | 60 Minutes | Janet Peterson, Master Beekeeper | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 | |
| Mentoring and Apiary | 40 Minutes | Antoine and new beekeepers- Monica, Sergei | |
| Four January 30, 2023 | Introductions | 10 Minutes | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |
| Seasonal Management Part 1 Spring- Summer (March-April) Inspections: Confirm expanding brood and room for expansion Check for adequate stores: honey and pollen ● Feeding options Sugar water, stored honey, dry sugar,pollen, etc | 40 Minutes | Scott Davis, Master Beekeeper | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Observing the entrance- Who’s coming out of the hive: Foragers Orientation flights Guard bees Swarm Control- When? How? (Splits, nucs, etc.) Supering (Tulip poplar flow) Mite check Recordkeeping | 30 Minutes | Scott Davis, Master Beekeeper | |
| Breakout Rooms | 20 Minutes | Scott zoom break out; Shane and Ricky rooms 1&2 | |
| Five Feb 6, 2023 | Introductions | 10 Minutes | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |
| NCSBA Update | 10 Minutes | Scott Davis, NCSBA Master Beekeeper | |
| Seasonal Management Part 2 Summer (May-June-July-August) Inspections Laying queen? Eggs? Larva? Capped Brood? Hive beetles? Varroa? Adequate room for brood, honey, pollen Feeding if needed Nectar Flow Schedule Tulip poplar Sourwood ● Supering Honey- Removing, replacing supers Mites evaluation Recordkeeping | 40 Minutes | Scott Davis, NCSBA Master Beekeeper | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Fall (September-October-November) ● Robbing ● Feeding/Nutritional Issues ● Honey stores ● Adding and removing supers ● Mite control ● Recordkeeping Winter ● Stores ● Mite treatment Equipment | 30 Minutes | Scott Davis, NCSBA Master Beekeeper | |
| Breakout Rooms | 20 Minutes | Scott zoom break out; Shane and Ricky rooms 1&2 | |
| Six Feb 13, 2023 | Introductions | 10 Minutes | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |
| Diseases and Parasites of the hive Invaders: Mites, SHB, Wax Months, etc Bacteria and Fungus: EFB, AFB, etc IPM Treatments: Treatment Free, Hard and Soft Chemicals DriftWatch and BeeCheck | 100 Minutes | Lewis Cauble, Apiary Inspector at NC Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services | |
| Seven Feb 20, 2023 | Introductions | 10 Minutes | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |
| Most Frequent Problems for a New Beekeeper ● Review of some key points covered in class. ● Lessons from panelists beginner beekeeper experiences. | 45 Minutes | Panel Discussion | |
| BREAK | BREAK | 10 Minutes | |
| Q&A | 20 Minutes | Panel | |
| Review of Apiary Syllabus | 15 min | Antoine Ignizio | |
| Closing Comments | 10 Minutes | Michelle Tennant Nicholson, President HCBA |