Central Jersey Beekeepers - Beekeeping for the Bee-ginner - January-March 2025
This six-evening course will cover all aspects of entry level beekeeping for the Hobbyist in NJ. No prior knowledge of honeybees or beekeeping is required. This class is offered by the Central Jersey Beekeepers Association and instruction is led by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Jeff Burd. Jeff has been keeping bees for over 15 years. Class materials are based on the curriculum developed by Jeff Burd and EAS Certified Master Beekeeper and former New Jersey State Apiarist Grant Stiles. This course fulfills the legal requirements of the State of New Jersey for beekeeper education.
The location of the class is Mercer County Extension Office, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing, NJ 08638.
Tentative class dates are Friday January 24, 31, February 7, 21, 28, March 14, 2025. There will be at least one ‘hands-on’ field inspection of bee hives, which will be determined by the weather.
Start time 6:30 pm. End approximately 9:00 pm. Class size is limited to 40 students. NJBA scholarship is available, click for details. Attendees must be at least 14 years of age.
Topics Covered:
Bee Biology; Equipment; Getting your bees; Pests; Diseases; State Regulations; Best location; nectar and pollen sources; Colony and Seasonal management; Best Management Practices; Bee nutrition; Harvesting; Products of the hive; Product safety; marketing, honey tasting and more.
The textbook “Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees” by Sanford and Bonney, and handouts will be provided. The cost is $150. There is a $25 discount for active 4-H and FFA members; as well as all U.S. Veterans, verification required. Enter the corresponding code: 4-H, FFA or Vet when registering.
There will be an opportunity to purchase equipment, supplies and bees at the conclusion of the course.
Essex County Beekeepers Society: Basic Beekeeping
Basic Beekeeping is a complete three-day course in beekeeping to be held February 1, February 15, and a field day in April TBA.
Class on 2/1 and 2/15, class will be held in the Garibaldi Hall building at 621A Eagle Rock Ave.
This class is offered by the Essex County Beekeepers Society and overseen by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Landi Simone. Successful completion of this class fulfills the education requirement necessary to legally keep bees in NJ. Classroom topics covered include: Honey Bee Biology, Beekeeping Equipment, Getting Started with Bees, Keeping Bees in Populated Areas, Bee Plants, Seasonal Management, Honey Bee Pests and Diseases, Harvesting Your Honey Crop, Queens, Queen Problems and Re-Queening. Day 3, Field Day, takes place in apiaries in Montville Twp. and provides students with an introduction to working with the bees. Students will have the experience of opening and inspecting a beehive themselves and obtain hands-on lessons in recognizing the various components of a hive and colony as well as inspection basics such as smoker lighting, protective gear, and correct use of the hive tool.
A continental breakfast and afternoon snack are included in both days of classroom instruction. Students should bring a bagged lunch or plan on eating lunch at various area restaurants. Students will have access to all slides presented during class as well as supplementary class materials. Students will also be able to purchase equipment at class and be given resources for purchasing bees in spring.
Tuition: $130 for 2 days in February and 1 field day in April. Snow day March 8.
Morris Somerset Beekeepers Assn: Basic Beekeeping
Beginning Beekeeping – February 15, March 1 & Field Day TBA
This three day course includes 2 full days in the classroom & 1 field day.
It will cover all aspects of entry level beekeeping for the Hobbyist in NJ. This course fulfills the legal requirements of the State of New Jersey for beekeeper education.
No prior knowledge of honeybees or beekeeping is required. This class is offered by the Morris Somerset County Beekeepers Association and instruction is led by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Jeff Burd. Jeff has been keeping bees for over 15 years. Class materials are based on the curriculum developed by Jeff Burd an EAS Certified Master Beekeeper along with former New Jersey State Apiarist Grant Stiles. The class will be held at That Honey Place, 511 New Brunswick Ave, Fords, NJ
Class dates are February 15 and March 1, 2025. There will be at least one ‘hands-on’ field inspection of bee hives held at a location to be determined and which will be subject to weather conditions.
The classes are held on Saturdays from 8:30 - 4:30
Class size is limited to 24 students NJBA scholarship is available, click for details.
Attendees must be at least 14 years of age.
The textbook “Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees” by Sanford and Bonney, and handouts will be provided. The cost is $150
Day One: Continental breakfast provided; lunch on your own. A list of some local lunch spots will be provided once registration closes.
Day Two: Continental breakfast provided; Lunch will be provided.
There is a $25 discount for the following (verification required):
Basic Beekeeping is a complete four-morning course in beekeeping to be held Thursday Mornings from February 20 through March 13 (or March 20 if there’s a snow day), 2025 from 9:00am-12:00pm with a Field Day following on a date TBD. It is offered by the Northwest New Jersey Beekeepers Association and overseen by Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper Jean Miller. Class materials are based on the curriculum developed by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Landi Simone. Successful completion of this class fulfills the legal education requirement to keep bees in NJ.
Class size is limited to 40 students. NJBA scholarship is available. Click for details. Attendees must be 14 years or older.
Classroom topics include:
Field Day takes place at the club’s apiary located near (but not exactly at) 70 Valley Crest Road, Lebanon, NJ. The coordinates for the apiary are 40°37'13.3"N 74°52'15.5"W., Field Day provides students with an introduction to working with the bees. Students will have the experience of opening and inspecting a beehive and obtain hands-on lessons in recognizing the various components of a hive and colony as well as inspection basics such as smoker lighting, protective gear, and correct use of the hive tool.
Students should bring a snack/drink (if desired) for a mid-morning break. Students will have access to all slides presented during class as well as supplementary class materials. Students may be able to purchase equipment at class and be given resources for purchasing bees.
Student contact information will be shared with Warren County Community College in order to contact students in case the college cancels a class due to inclement weather conditions.
Jean Miller is a Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper and a Rutgers Certified Master Gardener. Prior to motherhood she was an engineer in the food industry. She also was a substitute teacher for 20 years in the Flemington area and has been keeping bees for over a decade. Additional instructors may include Jim McCauley, past president of NWNJBA; Mim and Tim Dunne, beekeepers for over 40 years; Idria Knecht; Grant Stiles, former NJ State Apiarist and owner of Stiles Apiaries; and current NJ State Apiarist Meghan McConnell. Additional assistance in the apiary may come from Bob Kloss, EAS Master Beekeeper; James Zdepski and Laura Joiner.
Tuition: $130 for 2 days of class and 1 field day.
Raritan Valley Beekeepers Association: Basic Beekeeping
Basic Beekeeping is a complete three-day course in beekeeping being held March 15, March 29, and a field day in April TBA.
The course is presented by the Raritan Valley Beekeepers. Instructors are Master Beekeepers and other experienced beekeepers from RVBA and other NJBA branches.
Class materials are based on the curriculum developed by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Landi Simone and overseen by Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper Adele Barree. Successful completion of this class fulfills the education requirement necessary to legally keep bees in NJ.
Classroom topics covered include: Honey Bee Biology, Beekeeping Equipment, Getting Started with Bees, Keeping Bees in Populated Areas, Bee Plants, Seasonal Management, Honey Bee Pests and Diseases, Harvesting Your Honey Crop, Queens, Queen Problems and Re-Queening.
Day 3, Field Day, takes place in a local apiary and provides students with an introduction to working with the bees. Students will have the experience of opening and inspecting a beehive themselves and obtain hands-on lessons in recognizing the various components of a hive and colony as well as inspection basics such as smoker lighting, protective gear, and correct use of the hive tool.
Class size is limited to 30 students.
NJBA youth scholarship is available, click for details.
Basic Beekeeping is a complete three-day course in beekeeping to be held September 6 and 13, 2025 from 8:30am-4:00pm with a Field Day following on a date TBD. It is offered by the Northwest New Jersey Beekeepers Association and overseen by Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper Jean Miller. Class materials are based on the curriculum developed by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Landi Simone. Successful completion of this class fulfills the legal education requirement to keep bees in NJ.
Classroom topics covered on Days 1 and 2 include:
Day 3, Field Day, takes place in at the club’s apiary located near (but not exactly at) 70 Valley Crest Road, Lebanon, NJ. The coordinates for the apiary are 40°37'13.3"N 74°52'15.5"W., and provides students with an introduction to working with the bees. Students will have the experience of opening and inspecting a beehive themselves and obtain hands-on lessons in recognizing the various components of a hive and colony as well as inspection basics such as smoker lighting, protective gear, and correct use of the hive tool.
A continental breakfast and afternoon snack is included in both days of classroom instruction. Students should bring a bagged lunch or plan on eating lunch at various area restaurants. Students will have access to all slides presented during class as well as supplementary class materials. Students will also be able to purchase equipment at class and be given resources for purchasing bees for installation the following spring.
Jean Miller is a Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper and a Rutgers Certified Master Gardener. Prior to motherhood she was an engineer in the food industry. She also was a substitute teacher for 20 years in the Flemington area and has been keeping bees for about a decade. Additional instructors include Jim McCauley, past president of NWNJBA; Brandon Stoneking, NWNJBA First VP; Mim and Tim Dunne, beekeepers for over 40 years; Grant Stiles, former NJ State Apiarist and owner of Stiles Apiaries; and current NJ State Apiarist Meghan McConnell. Additional assistance in the apiary will come from Bob Kloss, EAS Master Beekeeper; and Laura Joiner, NWNJBA Outreach Co-Chair.
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The New Jersey Beekeepers Association is a 501(c)5 not-for-profit organization. 704 Kline Place, Bridgewater, NJ 08807-3135