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LBA Beginning Beekeepers Course Information
Loudoun Beekeepers Association offers its Beginning Beekeepers Course every winter. This course is an important outreach program designed to get more people interested in hobby beekeeping. If you have friends who have expressed an interest in beekeeping, please pass along the information below.
The LBA Basic Beekeeping for Beginners Course is open to adults and children (age 10 and over) who are interested in keeping bees. The course is held over a seven-week period and covers all aspects of beekeeping, such as the equipment you need to start beekeeping, the development of your colony, and your responsibilities in subsequent years.
It is very important that you read the following material so that you are best informed in making the decision to start keeping honeybees.
We have put together the following information to give you a basic idea of the course along with details on what beekeeping entails. This message is not to discourage you from beekeeping but to provide a realistic view of the commitment required to successfully keep bees.
1. Beekeeping requires adult participation. Beekeeping requires a determination to succeed, some heavy lifting, the occasionally working in less-than-desirable conditions, the probability of somewhat painful stings (especially as you are learning), and year-round management. We encourage the engaging and educating children. However, teenagers and children are often not successful without adult guidance and perseverance, therefore 1 adult family member must attend the course instruction and be participatory in the beekeeping venture.
2. Time commitment required. Beekeeping is for folks who have both the time and the desire to devote to the bees. If you have very little free time now then this venture may not be right for you to commit to at this time. Starting out, you should plan to spend 1-2 hours per hive, every week during April through October. November through March requires fewer visits, but those visits are very important to make for evaluation of your colony's health.
3. Regular care and attention is required. As evidenced by the news of declining honeybee populations over the last 15 or so years, honeybees are under significant pressure from parasites, disease, environmental pollution and chemicals. Neglect or poor colony management, and a lack of adequate food sources contribute to colony survival as well. Successful beekeeping today requires much more knowledge and attention to the bees than ever before. Therefore, you cannot simply put bees in your yard and watch them from a distance, while still expecting them to survive and provide you a bounty of honey. Bees are livestock that depend on your regular care and support for survival. Successful beekeepers need a good understanding of the biology of the bees and their parasites, the skills to recognize and manage disease, and a willingness to support the colonies by treatment and feeding when necessary. Failure to understand and help the bees with these stresses will result in colony death, beekeeper frustration, and loss of your investment.
4. Beekeeping and HOA restrictions. In the State of Virginia, bees kept in hives are classified as livestock. If you have an HOA or other property restrictions, investigate the regulations before committing to beekeeping. We do not recommend that beginning beekeepers keep bees on another's property during their first year. In most cases, the beekeeper will not visit and take care of them as often as necessary. This results in poor colony survival rates, expense and frustration.
5. Beekeeping start-up costs. Beekeeping today involves real expense. Should you choose to keep bees, the woodenware (the hive and associated components) will cost $200-$350 per colony depending on your ability to construct it. You will also need personal protective equipment and tools, which can run $75 - $200 per person. Finally, you will have to purchase the bees to start your colony costing approximately $120 - $200 per colony. Start-up can easily be over $1000 to setup a two-colony bee yard in the first year, more if you live in an area where you have to protect your colonies from bears or put up other barriers to protect people and bees.
6. Beginning Beekeeping Course time commitment. This course consists of seven (7) weekly class periods which last 2 to 2.5 hours each. We will recommend books, as well as provide lecture materials for your introduction to the new "language" of beekeeping. We will make every effort to give you all the information you need to be successful. It is incumbent upon you to attend all the classes, study the material, and ask questions so that we can help you learn the material. We encourage you to clear your calendar, so you do not miss any classes.
7. Continuing education and mentoring. Continuing education is very important once you get started. The course fee includes a one-year membership in both the Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA) and the Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA). LBA offers ongoing monthly continuing education meetings to provide you with the support and tools you need to be successful. Additionally, the VSBA offers bi-annual meetings covering a variety of beekeeping topics. LBA can provide you access to a mentor to help you during your first year of beekeeping. The mentor can answer questions or perhaps work with you in your hives as an introduction to the live colony. The mentor is there to help guide you through your first year. It will be up to you to manage the interaction with your mentor.
Schedule
Week 1
Introduction to Beekeeping
Week 2
Beekeeping Equipment
Week 3
Dynamics of the Colony
Week 4
Diseases, Parasites, Pests, & Predators
Week 5
First Year Beekeeping
Week 6
Second Year Beekeeping
Week 7
Floral Sources & Sustainable Beekeeping
Week 8
Field day (see below)
Field Day
Upon the completion of the course, a combined class field day will be held at a local apiary. We attempt to schedule this to coincide with the arrival of the package bees, so date, time and location will either be announced in class, or an email will be sent to you, if it is still unknown by week 7.
Mentor Field Day
To be arranged by the Instructors/Mentors as weather and schedules permit.
Open House
The 2024 Open House will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 0900-1100 @ the Old Stone School in Hillsboro
Course Location, Date and Time
Classes will be held from 8a - 10a each Saturday morning beginning January 18th, 2025, @ the Old Stone School in Hillsboro, VA
37098 Charlestown Pike, Hillsboro
Cost
The 2025 class is now OPEN.
The course is per family unit (household). The price includes a one-year membership in Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA)
All beekeeping equipment supplies and bees must be purchased separately. Equipment options will be discussed in the second class. You will be given an opportunity to purchase bees through the LBA as part of the course.
Inclement Weather Policy
This will be discussed in class.
Recommended reading
LBA recommends the beekeeping educational materials listed here.
Registration
Please use the link below to register. If you have questions, please email outreach@loudounbee.org.
IMPORTANT: To finalize your registration, payment of the course registration fee is required. Payment options include PayPal, and credit card. More information is provided on the registration site.