This class runs from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday, March 24th, and Sunday, March 25th. A Gold Star Weekend Intensive is two full days, jam-packed with the information you need to be ready to keep your own bees in top bar hives. It is appropriate for both novice beekeepers AND those with some beekeeping experience.
What we cover:
- How We Got Here From There – A history of the beekeeping methods and agricultural practices that have brought us to the methods in use today. What effect are these things having on honeybees? What is causing CCD, and what can you do to help?
- Inside the Hive – What are the bees doing in there? How can we support their natural processes and systems, managing the hive responsibly, but interfering as little as possible?
- When to Do What & Why – Starting a new hive, performing hive inspections, comb handling, honey harvesting, wax rendering, mite monitoring, splitting your hive, winterizing. This section includes hands-on work with Gold Star equipment.
- Terrible Things That Can Happen to Your Wonderful Bees – Forewarned is forearmed! Learn how to keep your bees healthy, and how to recognize and resolve problems in the hive.