HONEY BEEKEEPING ESSENTIALS, THE SERIES.

Cost: $15

On April 22, Hayes Valley Farm will be a “bee distribution site” for new and experienced beekeepers who placed their order for packaged bees with San Francisco Bee-Cause.

This short class will take place during the bee distribution window so students can observe installation of one of the packages of New World Carniolan bees into a Langstroth hive that will be maintained at Hayes Valley Farm. We will demonstrate two methods for installation, various options for positioning the queen cage within the hive, checking for queen release and how to release the queen if the bees have not done so. We will discuss feeding options, what you should see in the hive a few weeks after queen release, and what to do if you are not seeing what you should. Differences in installing a swarm and post-installation observations will be covered.

Students should wear a beekeeping or other veil sufficient to protect neck, face and head from possible bee stings during installation of the bees into the hive. Students who bring their own hive tool will have the opportunity to practice removing a queen cage (empty) from a package (also empty) without prematurely releasing all the bees from the package.

There are still seats available! Please complete the online registration so we have ample materials and staffing. You will receive an email from us confirming your registration.

Photo by Harlequin.