Beekeeping mini-course

This half day beekeeping course for new beekeepers can be the practical starting point and the first contact with bees and beekeeping.

Why become a beekeeper?

In nature in Italy there are almost no wild honeybee swarms left. That is why nowadays the beekeeper has a fundamental role, a sort of guardian of the honeybees. Normal agriculture weighs heavy on the environment: the use of large quantities of water, pesticides an antibiotics, production of manure and greenhouse gases, large machinery, etc. Beekeeping has an absolutely positive impact on the environment with the pollination of a large number of plants.

For who?

The course is perfect for our B&B guests that want to experience something completely different!

I organize beekeeping courses for new beekeepers who want to do a half-day trial before deciding whether to take a long full course or before buying all the materials and bees. I provide all the information you need to get started with beekeeping.

The course is perfect for those who want to become beekeepers for family use and maybe grow slowly, but not to immediately become a professional producer of honey.

Languages

I can organize the mini-course in English, Dutch or Italian .

Marc Lemmens: beekeeper

I was born and raised in the Netherlands. I studied chemistry and environmental technology, but I’ve always worked as a computer programmer. I have been a beekeeper since 2011 and I like to share information about the fascinating super-organism bees, how to help them and at the same time have a return in honey.

Program:

The mini-course starts at 9:00 am and ends around 1:00 pm

1. Introduction:

•     A few words on safety and how to behave near a beehive
•     Biology of the super-organism.
•     Seasonal development of bees and the relative work of the beekeeper.
•     The hive and its components: nest box, supers, frames, queen excluder, etc.
•     The deposit of the beekeeping material.
•     The laboratory for the honey extraction.

2. The practical part: visit to the apiary

I will let you open some hives to observe the frames covered with bees to let you understand:

•     Use of tools (smoker, levers, brush, etc.).
•     How to check colonies and why.
•     Recognize the workers, the drones and the queen.
•     Recognize cells with honey and pollen stocks.
•     Recognize the cells with larvae in the various stages of development and the eggs.
•     Recognize the worker cells, queen cells and drone cells.

3. Introduction to the organization of the works

•     Control swarming and how to capture swarms.
•     A plan against varroa
•     Keep a record / schedule for each hive.
•     Why substitute old queens.
•    increase the amount of colonies or to keep them on the same amount.

The cost of the mini-course

60 € per person for a half day (4 hours) with a minimum of 2 people, maximum 4.

You can also book our B&B in combination with the mini-course. 10% discount on the first night of the reservation.

The dates available for the mini-course:

Booking

You can write an email to bb.la.fossa@gmail.com to book the course. I will ask for the full payment in advance by bank transfer or Paypal.

When there is really bad weather here (rain, strong wind, cold er than 15°C, snow) and I have to cancel the course at the last moment I will refund the full amount or we can reprogram the course.

Cancellations: if you cancel a month before the course you will have a 90% refund. Cancellations from one month to 7 days before the course: 50% refund. From 7 to 0 days before the course: no refund.

Where the mini-course takes place

I organize the courses at Vetto d’Enza in the province of Reggio Emilia. The apiary is located in the Val Tassaro a SIC/ZPS protected area recognized by the European Union.

B&B La Fossa
Via Fossa 3 42020 Vetto (RE) Italy
tel: 0522815188
email: bb.la.fossa@gmail.com

What to bring and what will I provide?

I will provide: protection with a suit, pants and gloves.
To wear: high closed shoes or with light colored socks that protect the ankles.
Not to spray on: perfumes (a little deodorant does not create problems). Bees smell very well and it can annoy them.