Beekeeping Basics and Beyond

Beekeeping Basics and Beyond: Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pmSunday, April 5, 2020 from 9:00am to 4:00 pmSunday April 26, 2020 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pmThis is a course for successful beekeeping in the North Okanagan and will focus on the biology and life cycle of the honey bee and colony. We will cover all information to successfully manage honey bee colonies, from equipment to the duties required as the colonies change with the seasons. Whether you have one colony or a larger apiary, we will cover information regarding spring build-up, managing swarm season, nucleus production, honey production, late season management, wintering strategies, and all the intricacies in between. A large focus will be on the identification and management of various honey bee pathologies and brood diseases, Integrated Pest Management and best practices from the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists. We will have field day experience where we will get to know a few colonies, and we will revisit those same colonies three weeks later to note their growth and development. The completion of this course will coincide with the beginning of nucleus and swarm season, so attendees will have the knowledge to successfully raise and nurture their first colonies if they have never done beekeeping before. For those who have hives already, they will have the knowledge and information to manage their colonies to produce nucleus colonies or splits, control the swarming impulse, and to produce a greater honey crop. Queen cells will be made available for course attendees at a reduced price during the month of May for splits anyone might want to produce.Course instruction will be provided by Doug Gordon. Doug holds a Bee Masters course certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture and worked as an apiary inspector for the Ministry for 4 years. Doug learned to raise queens and bee stock from local bee breeder Jamie Macdonald and spent seasons raising queens in the South Island of New Zealand. He is the owner and operator of The Okanagan Honey Company which has apiaries in the Armstrong and Enderby areas. It is here he raises queen bees, nucleus colonies, and produces high quality local Okanagan honey.LOCATION:ORCHARD BLOSSOM HONEY4150 Crozier Road, Armstrong, BCCost $195.00, $50 non-refundable deposit required with registration, with the rest due on first day of course. Bring your own lunch. Coffee, tea and water will be provided. Saturday April 4 – Morning – Biology and life cycle of the honey bee and colonyAfternoon – Bee husbandry/ management of bee colonies/business of beekeepingSunday April 5 – Morning – Pest and disease managementAfternoon – Field daySunday April 26 – Morning – Questions and AnswersAfternoon – Field Day Space is limited.Registration Forms are available at www.orchardblossomhoney.com/beekeeping