“Successful Beekeeping in Whatcom County”
My 2026 class will start Tuesday, March 3rd. Details below. This 8-week course focuses on my own methods for keeping honeybees alive, healthy and productive here in Whatcom County. Using these techniques, field-tested for 21 years, I believe every new beekeeper can succeed right from the bee-ginning.
There’s a lot to be learned about beekeeping in books and online, but those resources don’t fully reflect our unique local beekeeping challenges. 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 local beekeepers, lots of study and years of practice.
I started beekeeping in 2005 with one California “package.” I have never bought bees or queens since then. I raise my own bees as sustainably as possible and 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.
NOTE: This class deals with Langstroth hive equipment and management techniques. AKA “Bees in Boxes.” This method has proven successful for beekeepers world-wide for 175 years and works beautifully in Whatcom County. I’m glad to discuss other types of hives, but we will focus on Langstroth.
Weather permitting, we’ll make several field trips to my hives near Lake Padden. Field trips are on weekends, scheduled so most students can attend.
Class will meet at Chuckanut Center in Fairhaven, Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30 starting March 3rd.
Tuition: $325 Limited to 15 beekeepers.
Register: michaeljaross@gmail.com
Topics we will cover:
– Basic Honeybee Biology and how to use it to your advantage.
– Special challenges we face in Whatcom County with our changing maritime climate.
– Equipment: preparing, maintaining, buying 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.
– Bringing Your Bees into Spring: Hooray! You made it!
Questions? Send them HERE. See you in class!
Cheers, Michael
Michael Jaross
Whatcom Bee Help
