Beginners conversion rate
I'm a beginner this year and there were around 25 people at our beginner training classes. I was one of 2 people that already had a hive and planned to get bees this year. I have mine now, but I'm pushed for time with my family so I've not made it back to the association apiary visits. I know that I should so I can get more tips/advice from the experienced people in the association, but so much easier getting to the bottom of my garden than in the car to the alliance apiary. I am in contact with my association and I understand the numbers of new beekeepers at the apiary have been low. However it had been closed straight after the classes finished, which was a shame and may have got people out of the habit of a Sunday afternoon talking about bees. Our latest newsletter has an announcement about the apiary being open again, so hopefully there were more attending today, although I didn't myself as I was out to lunch. I'd guess that busy lives, is a big reason that people don't attend. Also communication is important to make sure new beekeepers know what is going on with the association. I've just set up a facebook page for our association which may get some of the more tech savvy people know that the apiary meetings are going ahead. Have to say that once you have bees and watch them flying back with pollen on their legs, it is so interesting. I've had a lot of local friends interested since getting them to look at the bees in my perspex coverboard.