Outline of 2007 Beekeeping Classes

Objective: To create an interest in beekeeping and provide information needed for a person to become established as a hobbyist beekeeper.


Session Date¹ Subject Instructor

1-  Jan 9 Introduction to Beekeeping Don Moore
Introduction of the Course and Participants Review Course Outline Benefits of Beekeeping Pollination (honey bees contribute $14.6 billion/yr. to US Agric.) Products of the hive (honey, wax, propolis, pollen, royal jelly and bees) History of Beekeeping References, books, publications Organizations - ACB, NCSBA, EAS

2-  Jan 16 Equipment of Beekeeping Mike Ross, Don Moore
Protective gear, veil, coveralls and glovesSmokerHive tool and frame grips (if desired)Hive moving frameHive straps or staplesBasic hive componentsBee space and critical dimensionsWoodenware Bottom board, hive body, queen excluder, honey super, inner cover and lidAssembly

3-  Jan 23 Equipment of Beekeeping (continued) Mike Ross, Don Moore
Frames (different designs of bottom and top bars)AssemblyFoundationPurposeVarious sizes and designsInstallation methods

4-  Jan 30 Starting a Honey Bee Hive Ken Pipes
Locating the hive Considerations - Location of water, direction to face the hive, sunlight, windbreak, away from sidewalks and playgrounds Ways to start a hive Package bees, nucs, splits (dividing a colony), swarms and removals from a tree or house or buy existing colony from another beekeeper Feeding the new colony using several different type feeders Checking hives after installing bees Expanding your bees by dividing a colony or by starting a few nucs Moving a hive (necessary when buying an existing colony) Considerations - When moving short distance, when moving long distance, extra equipment needed and preparations to be made by the beekeeper

5-  Feb 6 Introducing New Queen Ken Pipes
Requeen existing colony, split or swarm Finding old queen Different methods of introducing new queen Advantages of young queen - less likely to swarm, builds up faster in spring and raises brood later in the fall

6-  Feb 13 Nectar Sources of North Carolina Bill Sheppard
Flowering Nectar Plants Plant Features Period of nectar flow in different areas

7-  Feb 20 Bees as Social Insects Will Hicks
Other insects, bumble bees, hornets, wasps, etc. Anatomy of the honey bee Development of various caste (charts) Relationships - which ones do what Pheromones Progression of duties Different races of honey bees Means of communicating (performing a dance on the combs)

8-  Feb 27 Medicating Bees Don Hopkins
Diseases European foulbrood, American foulbrood, chalkbrood, sacbrood & nosema Mites Varroa Tracheal Small Hive Beetles

9-  Mar 6 Primary Management Phases Ken Pipes
Fall Management in preparation for winter After all surplus honey has been removed Treat for diseases and mites Check for honey stores (feeding may be required) Make sure colony has a good queen Use entrance reducer to keep mice out, provide both top ventilation and a windbreak for each hive Second Spring Management Preparations for honey flow Check brood to verify that colony is healthy and expanding If you treat, treat early for diseases and mites Try and control swarming during spring buildup Remove entrance reducers, install queen excluders and supers After the honey flow Removing honey Removing bees from supers by brushing, using one-way bee escape, chemical repellents and a bee blower Processing the honey - liquid, comb, chunk and section Rendering the wax (from the cappings)

10-  Mar 13 Course Review Don Moore
Ten Commandments of Beekeeping 1. Use only standard beekeeping equipment 2. Be considerate of non-beekeeping neighbors 3. Requeen 4. Control disease and parasites 5. Maximize colony population before the main nectar flow 6. Super colonies according to their need 7. Take pride in honey and other hive products 8. Protect your beekeeping equipment 9. Help your bees through winter 10. Join and participate in a beekeeping association

11-  Mar 17² Field Day (4 hours at an apiary in the local area) Don Hopkins,Don Moore, Ken Pipes,Mike Ross
Light smoker and inspect a hive (first by an instructor and then by one or more of the students) Check for disease, check brood pattern and find the queen Identify a drone Identify eggs, young larvae, sealed worker brood, sealed drone brood, pollen and honey Show how to: Check for Varroa mites Install a package of bees (students will help shake the bees) Start a nuc Show steps necessary in preparation for honey flow - add a queen excluder, add two or more supers, remove entrance reducer Demonstrate getting a hive ready for winter - include checking a hive for honey stores, feeding by several different methods, removing the queen excluder, providing upward ventilation and adding an entrance reducer


¹All class sessions will be held at the Agricultural Building, 209 North Graham-Hopedale Road, in Burlington. The classes will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the dates shown above. This location is two blocks north of North Church Street (US 70) and across the street from the old Western Electric Plant and the Western Charcoal Steakhouse.

²Each student should bring a veil and any other protective equipment they feel comfortable with while working bees. The smoker, hive tool and frame grips will be provided. The location and starting time will be given during the class. Please note this is a Saturday. Rain date for the Field Day will be March 24 (also a Saturday).

The telephone numbers of your local instructors are as follows:

Don Hopkins – 336-376-8250 Don Moore – 336-584-3195
Mike Ross – 336-584-8652 Ken Pipes – 336-229-5622