Buncombe County Beekeepers Club announces the 2023 BCBC Beginners Beekeeping School.
Nov. 7th, 9th, 6;30pm – 8:30pm.
Nov11th – Hands on workshops day (no live bees will be present) 8:30am-4:30pm
$90 per person Includes:
course book – 1 year BCBC membership – course materials
Lunch Included for Saturday workshops!
If you want to bring a family member or two there will be an additional cost of $15per to cover the cost of lunch (you will only receive one book and set of material handouts)
Seating limited to 80 participants!
Buncombe County Beekeepers Club (BCBC), a chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, is one of the largest and longest standing beekeeping clubs in North Carolina. BCBC is dedicated to the education and success of those interested in the art and science of beekeeping, with the support of other local beekeepers. BCBC puts a great emphasis on education, because in our view, a knowledgeable beekeeper is a good, lifelong beekeeper.
This is an intensive event that will expose new beekeepers to the skills they should develop in their first year of beekeeping. The content and course material is a newly designed format that received rave reviews in 2018, 2019, and 2021. This course concentrates on what all new beekeepers should learn their first year in order to support a honeybee colony through its first season in their own apiary.
The first session :Welcome and general lecture that introduces new beekeepers to the super-organism, and biology of the honey bee. These are ‘must know’ lessons to help you understand and identify what you will see in your hives.
The second session: We will be covering hardware(hives and equipment) and pests and disease. of the honey bee.
The third session : Saturday, will be ‘hands on’ session, that consists of four separate breakout ‘round-robin’ sessions. Bear fence, siting your apiary,feeding and treating, smokers. As a participant you will have the opportunity to ‘get your hands dirty’ using the various pieces and parts of equipment that is involved in a beekeepers daily life. (Saturday includes lunch, with vegan and paleo options, for participants at no additional cost. )
Beekeepers will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate items as needed.
The course will end with The Year in the Life of a Beekeeper and a general wrap up session, review, local supplier introductions, end of course evaluation and graduation!
Hands on workshops and demonstrations will not be using live bees – NO bees (or beekeepers!) will be harmed during this course!
| Nov 7th | First Session –
Mountain Horticultural Research Center Mills R6:45iver |
| 6:30pm | Welcome—what is BCBC |
| 6:45pm- 7:00pm
7:00pm-8:15pm 8:15pm-8:30pm |
House keeping and what to expect
The Super Organism Wrap up |
| Nov 9th |
Second Session
Mountain Horticultural Research Center Mills River |
| 6:30pm-6:45pm | Welcome/Housekeeping |
| 6:45pm-7:30pm | Hardware |
| 7:30pm-8:30pm | Pests and Disease |
| 8:30pm-8:45pm | Saturday hands on prep |
| Nov. 11th | Hands On Sessions
Mountain Horticultural Research Center Mills River (lunch included) |
| 8:30-9:00am | Registration—Check in |
| 9:00-9:15am | Welcome, days description |
| 9:15am-10:30am
10:45am-12:00pm |
Round Robin sessions
Round Robin sessions |
| 12:15-1:30pm | Lunch—open Q & A |
| 1:30pm-2:30pm
2:30pm-3:30pm |
Round robins sessions
Round Robin sessions |
| 3:30pm—4:30pm | The Year in the Life of A beekeeper
Wrap-up |