Central Valley Beekeepers Association

The Central Valley Beekeepers Association is offering a follow up, hands on, class as a follow up to the introductory class on bees and beekeeping.

This “Follow-up” Beekeeping class will provide additional information and hands-on exposure to beekeeping practices. The class is scheduled on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 9 am to 12 pm. This $25 class will present additional, in-depth, information for beginning and more experienced beekeepers.

Preliminary Curriculum:

1. Observe hives for size and strength. Strong vs weak hives. Look for queen cells and other signs of failing queen. Supercedure vs. swarm cell.
2. Look for eggs even if you don’t see the queen.
3. Winterize a hive. Move top bees in super into bottom box. Evaluate for strength.
4. How to do a sugar and alcohol roll for Varroa count and a sticky board count.
5. How to medicate hive (PULL ALL HONEY OFF FOR EXTRACTING BEFORE MEDICATING).
6. Discuss foundation vs. comb frames and feeding to draw out frames.
7. Show Feeders and pollen patties.
8. How to feed a hive with sugar water and pollen patty.
   1. 1. Spring feeding ratio: To stimulate colony growth and comb production. Use 1 part sugar to 2 parts hot water to dissolve sugar (approximately 1.5 pounds of sugar per gallon of water. ~3¾ cups sugar).
      2. Summer feeding if needed ratio: Use 1 part sugar to 1 part hot water  approximately 3 pounds of sugar to 1 gallon of hot water).
      3. Fall feeding for winter storage ratio: Use 2 parts sugar to 1 part hot water  (approximately 5 pounds of sugar to 1 gallon of water). When feeding sugar water you CANNOT pull frames of honey from those boxes (Honey Bee Hobbyist by Gary Norman).
9. View the honey extraction area.
10. Plant walk for Pollinator friendly plants.
11. Question and answers.