2012 Beginning Beekeeping Class

Due to high interest, the 2012 BONS Beginning Beekeeping Class is FULL and CLOSED. You are welcome to send us your information for next year’s class by clicking here. We would then contact you next January when the 2013 class is being formed.

Information regarding the class: This is a beginning beekeeping class, designed to get you all the information you’d need to know to get you through your first couple years with bees. The cost of the class is $100. This includes cost of books, etc. One registration per family – we encourage family involvement. This cost does not include cost of hive equipment, protective gear and bees. First year costs for hive equipment, protective gear and bees generally runs in the neighborhood of $600 to start a pair of bee colonies.

If you’ve ever attended our bee class previously, you can re-attend free of charge.

The class runs for seven consecutive weeknights, beginning in mid-February and running into April. This schedule is dictated mainly by the bee’s lifecycle. Spring is the time to start new colonies, so they have plenty of time to prepare for their first winter.

In the past, we’ve taught three classes. The 2012 schedule includes…

Monday Class
Taught at Blandy Experimental Farm, off Rt. 50, Boyce, Virginia (map)
7 – 9pm
Starting Feb 20

Wednesday Class
Taught at Virginia Tech Research Farm, off Middle Road, south of Winchester (map)
7 – 9pm
Starting Feb 22

Thursday Class
Taught at Winchester Medical Center’s Wellness Center (map)
7 – 9pm
Starting Feb 23

If you have an urgent need to contact one of our volunteer instructors please do so by emailing instructors@valleybees.org .

Course Materials are segmented into the following major topics: