The Knox County Beekeepers Association (KCBA) is set to offer its annual Beginner Beekeeping Classes, designed for individuals interested in keeping honeybees but unsure of how to begin. These classes will take place in Room 105 of Faculty Hall at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
"Beekeeping can be a complicated endeavor. We try to simplify it for our students and give them enough knowledge to get started and be successful," said KCBA President Jeff Gabric, according to a KCBA news release.
According to the KCBA news release, the course will consist of two sessions. The first session on Saturday, February 1, will focus on getting started with beekeeping. The second session on February 15 will cover methods for managing honeybees. Both classes are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The first class will provide information on what equipment is needed for beekeeping and where to purchase bees and supplies. It will also address bee care and health maintenance. Instruction will include recognizing bee behaviors, understanding basic biology, dealing with pest problems, and harvesting honey. The second class will delve into hive management techniques such as increasing honey production, swarm catching, pollen collection, and hive splitting. Both sessions aim to present best practices in an accessible format that encourages class participation.
The fee for each class is $65, which includes a copy of "First Lessons in Beekeeping" by Keith Delpane and a one-year membership to both the Knox County Beekeepers Association and the Ohio State Beekeepers Association. Participants who enroll in both classes can benefit from a reduced total cost of $120. The KCBA also offers youth scholarships.
Preregistration is required due to limited availability; early registration is recommended. Interested individuals can visit the KCBA website at www.knoxbees.com for more information or call Jeff Gabric at 740-760-0300 with any questions. The KCBA was established on May 21, 2012, with the mission of promoting local beekeeping.
