Central Jersey Beekeepers…Beginning Beekeeping – January to March, 2027
The location of the class is Mercer County Extension Office, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing, NJ 08638.
Tentative class dates are Friday January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 12, 2027. 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 30 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 $50 discount for active 4-H and FFA members; as well as all U.S. Veterans, verification required and second family member-same address. 85% attendance required for completion certificate.
Enter the corresponding code: 4-H, FFA, Vet or 2Fam when registering.
There will be an opportunity to purchase equipment, supplies and bees at the conclusion of the course.
There are no refunds after the class begins.
Morris Somerset Beekeepers Association: Basic Beekeeping
Beginning Beekeeping – February 6 and 20 & Field Day TBA
This three-day course includes two full days in the classroom, lunch provided, & one 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 Cornell Certified Master Beekeepers Bailey Wright and Kathy Liu.
The class will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 140 S Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 Directions Here
Class dates are February 6 and 20, 2027. There will be at least one hands-on field inspection of bee hives held at a location to be determined. The field day will be subject to weather conditions.
The classes are held on Saturday February 6th from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and Saturday February 20 from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Class size is limited to 40 students NJBA scholarship is available, click for details.
The textbook “Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees” by Sanford and Bonney, and course handouts, will be provided.
Course Cost: $150
There is a $25 discount for the following (verification required):
There will be an opportunity to purchase equipment, supplies, and bees at the conclusion of the course.
The textbook “Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees” by Sanford and Bonney, and along with course handouts, will be provided.
Essex County Beekeepers Society: Basic Beekeeping
Basic Beekeeping is a complete three-day course in beekeeping to be held March 6, March 13, and a field day in April TBA.
Class on 3/6 and 3/13, class will be held in the Garibaldi Hall building at 621A Eagle Rock Ave.
Landi Simone is an EAS Certified Master Beekeeper, owner of Gooserock Farm LLC in Montville, NJ, and has been keeping bees for 30 years. She has taught Basic Beekeeping since its inception over twenty-five years ago and is a nationally known speaker on beekeeping. Additional instructors include Joseph Treimel, past president of ECBS and long-term beekeeper with over 40 years' experience, and former NJ State Apiarist/commercial beekeeper Grant Stiles.
Tuition: $140 for 2 days in March and 1 field day in April. Snow day March 20.
Raritan Valley Beekeepers Association: Basic Beekeeping
Basic Beekeeping is a complete three-day course in beekeeping being held March 6 and March 13, 2027, followed by a HANDS ON field day in April, weather permitting (date TBD).
This course is presented by Raritan Valley Beekeepers. Instructors are Master Beekeepers and other experienced beekeepers from Raritan Valley Beekeepers Association (RVBA).
Class materials are based on the curriculum developed by EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Landi Simone and Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper Adele Barree. Successful completion of this class fulfills the education requirement necessary to legally keep bees in NJ.
Classroom topics 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.
Continental breakfast, drinks, and snacks are included both days of classroom instruction. Everyone brings their own lunch. Students will receive a notebook with all slides presented during class as well as an opportunity for hands on experience with setting up your first nuc. Information on beekeeping equipment and honey bee vendors will be available.
NJBA youth scholarship is available, click for details.
Teachers and 4-H, FFA and Scout leaders may apply for the RVBA Educators Scholarship. For more information please contact Adele Barree at adele.barree@gmail.com.
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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
