“Successful Beekeeping in Whatcom County”
I’m pleased to announce that Whatcom County’s Annual “intensive” Basic Beekeeping class WILL be held this year. Jo Miller, after many successful years of teaching this class, has decided to retire and has encouraged me to continue in her stead. So, here’s the deal:
I’ve decided to call the class “Successful Beekeeping in Whatcom County.” The class will cover most of the essential “classical” beekeeping material that Jo has always presented so well. I will add to that my own methods for keeping honeybees alive, healthy and productive under the conditions and challenges we currently face right here in Whatcom County.
I took 18 hives into winter this year and, after checking today, there are still 18 hives alive and healthy. After swarm control and spring splitting, these hives will grow to over 30 this summer. There’s a lot to be learned about beekeeping in books and online, but those resources don’t usually reflect our local beekeeping challenges. This class should be viewed as a kind of mentoring. I will show you”hands-on” how I manage my own hives successfully year after year. My methods are a composite of what I’ve learned from other talented local beekeepers, lots of study and years of practice. I will pass on as much of that as possible in eight 2-hour classes.
To toot my horn a bit more, I started beekeeping in 2005 with one “package” from Belleville Honey. I have never bought bees or queens since then. I raise my own bees as sustainably as possible with as few outside inputs as possible. My dark, “Carniolan-ish” bees are gentle, over-winter well, are relatively disease-free, and respond well to parasite management. ANY beekeeper can do the same with good training and persistence. That’s what this class will offer. My goal: locally raised bees that thrive in Whatcom County.
A NOTE: This class deals with Langstroth hive equipment and management techniques. “Bees in Boxes.” This method has been field-proven as the most successful for beekeepers world-wide over more than 160 years and works beautifully in our local weather conditions. Of course, I’m glad to discuss other types of hives and systems briefly, but we will concentrate on Langstroth and how this method can be used to best advantage for you and your bees.
Another new feature for this class: we will have our own bees to work with! Weather permitting, we will make several week-end daytime field trips to my teaching apiary at WWU, The Outback Bees Project. Bee suits, gloves, etc. will be available for those who don’t have their own yet.
We will meet at Chuckanut Center in Fairhaven, Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30, March 13th – May 1st. Tuition: $175 payable at first class, non-refundable. Checks or cash. Register online HERE. The class is limited to 15, so we can spend at least some time working individually on your own beekeeping plans.
We will cover:
– Basic Honeybee Biology and how to use it to your advantage.
– Special challenges we face in Whatcom County with our unpredictable maritime climate.
– Equipment: preparing, maintaining, my recommendations.
– Package Bees and Nucleus Hives: Getting off to a good start!
– Hive Inspections: what you’re seeing and how to use that information.
– Swarms: prevention, catching, hiving.
– Diseases and Parasites: keeping your bees healthy while doing them no harm.
– Feeding Bees: when, how much, when to stop, what to feed.
– Honey: several harvesting approaches for hobby beekeepers, sales, hygiene.
– Queens: marking, raising your own, handling.
– Preparing for successful over-wintering: combining for strength, insulation, winter feeding. !
– Bring Your Bees into Spring: Hooray! You made it through to the next season!
That’s just a partial list. Bring your questions, plans and ideas. We will come up with a 2018 Season Plan for each participant. Want to know more about me? Look HERE.
Questions? Post them HERE on my website. See you in class!
Cheers, Michael
Michael Jaross
Whatcom Bee Help