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.