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Education > HCBA Classes

Thank you to all our 2023 Beginning Beekeeping Course participants! 

Registration for our 2024 Course will open in mid-August. 

One-Day Seminar
2023 Date TBD
This seminar is only offered 'in person'.

Are you thinking about keeping honey bees and want more information? This one-day informational seminar will give you an overview of the considerations you need to help you decide if beekeeping is for you.

 

This is an informational session and is not intended to be a beginning beekeeper course.  If you are planning to keep honey bees, you will want to attend our Beginning Beekeeping Course.

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The one-day seminar is designed as an overview of beekeeping. Topics include:

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  • Benefits of keeping bees

  • Basic honey bee biology

  • Obtaining and setting up your equipment

  • Products of the hive

  • Local pollen and nectar sources

  • How you can help pollinators

  • Do you want to be a beekeeper?

 

The 2023 One-Day Seminar will be held one Saturday in the fall at the Robinson Nature Center from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM. 

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Beginning Beekeeping Course

2024 Date TBD

If you are seriously considering keeping honey bees, or have decided to start this coming spring, this is the course for you! The 8-session Beginning  Beekeeper Course (BBC) will give you the detailed information needed to start.  

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The course also includes a hands-on field day. A sample of the topics covered includes: 

 

  • Getting Started in Beekeeping – What you need 

  • Apiary Site Locations 

  • Zoning Laws

  • Ways to Obtain Honey Bees and How to Start Honey Bee Colonies

  • Honey Bee Biology and Behavior

  • Swarming and Its Prevention

  • Management of new colonies and Maryland Recommended Management Practices

  • Products of the Hive

  • Feeding Bees

  • Registering Your Bees with the State

  • Local Nectar and Pollen Plants

  • Honey Bee Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems 

  • And much more – Including demonstrations and hands-on opportunities

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The next HCBA Beginning Beekeeping course will be held at the Howard County Fairgrounds Dining Hall, from 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM in February 2024.

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