In this three-week course and following field day, you will learn how to start your first year in beekeeping.
This beginner’s course will be led by Katey O’Donnell with a mix of other local experts. In addition to the classroom sessions, there will be a bonus Field Day in our teaching apiary (weather permitting), with some hands-on inspections. The Field day will be a Sat/Sun in late March or early April .
Beekeeping 101 is just the beginning of learning about bees and beekeeping. Fortunately, our meetings and other club resources are here to supplement your journey beyond the classroom instruction.
We will focus on building a foundation for beekeeping that includes:
- Practical solutions you can do at the hive
- Stress the timing of certain management practices
- How to read the frames
- Understanding risk in hive management
What’s important isn’t that you know all the bee facts, but that you know when and where to look for information when needed.
2025 Course
March 22nd
• 9am – 10:30am: Overview of a full season and introduction to fundamental concepts.
• 11am – 12:00pm: Necessary honey bee biology and guidelines for handling bees.
Guest Speaker: Bill Castro
March 29th
• 9am – 10:30am: How to read the hive, Inspecting a colony
• 11am – 12:00pm: Dealing with pests and disease.
Guest Speaker: David Schultz
April 5th
• 9am – 10:30am: Recap, and highlights
• 11am – 12:00pm: Mock inspection
Guest Speaker: Cybil Preston
Registration includes an individual one-year membership to CMBA (regularly $20/year). Members are invited to attend our monthly meetings and board meetings. You will also receive full members-only access to our website, lending library, and teaching apiary. Everyone is welcome!
Details
Fees: $60 per individual
Schedule: March 22nd, March 29th, and April 5, 2025. Saturday mornings, 9AM – 12:00PM Eastern
Location
Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park | Baltimore County Government
114 Shawan Road
Cockeysville, MD 2103014108878570 (tel:+14108878570)
Registration includes a one-year membership in the CMBA.