Raritan Valley Beekeepers Association: Basic Beekeeping

Basic Beekeeping is a complete three-day course in beekeeping to be held March 12, March 26, and a field day in April TBA. It is offered by the Raritan Valley Beekeepers Association and presented by Adele Barree, Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper and Christine Miller, Master Beekeeper Candidate with selected topics covered by distinguished guest speakers.  Class  materials are based on the curriculum developed 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 at the RVBA apiary in Branchburg 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.