Introduction to Beekeeping

[Karsal]

I decided one and a half years ago that would like to keep bees. I read every book I could get my hands on in the first year then joined my local beekeeping club later that autumn. No bees at the time.
Our local club ran several courses on "Introduction to beekeeping" 15 to 20 attended the course over six weeks. Very very informative. However only one person kept up with attendance at club meetings and went on to keep bees.
That was me!!!
May I just say that anyone wanting to start out keeping bees should read a good book or two on the subject but most of all. JOIN your local beekeeping society/club. Do an introductory course.
Finally the club will offer you members with lots of experience and some kind member will if you are friendly assist you and mentor you with a bit of luck.

 

[beeno]

Well done you Karsal. Hell of a drop out rate though? What happened?

 

[ugcheleuce]

Our local club ran several courses on "Introduction to beekeeping" 15 to 20 attended the course over six weeks. Very very informative. However only one person kept up with attendance at club meetings and went on to keep bees. That was me!!!

I suppose there is a market for 6-week courses (they're mostly for dreamers, I would imagine). On this side of the channel the courses typically consist of 8 theoretical and 8 practical sessions, and halfway through the theory some of the courses provide attendants with a 3-frame queenless nuc at around April, May or June. I think such a course would see more people remain beekeepers.

Don't forget that some people become beekeepers but don't join the local association (costs, etc). In the city where I live, the attrition is due to the high cost of club membership, low number of useful club meetings, and lack of room in the club apiaries (where space seeminly only becomes available when old beekeepers die). The high cost of bee boxes may also play a role.

 

[Amari]

I was lucky enough to learn the craft at Sparsholt (Hampshire College of Agriculture) in 1972, led by the county beekeeper John Cossburn (Are you still around John?) Alternate weeks over winter we had a theory class and a woodworking session making ourselves Langstroths. In spring we moved into the apiary but were not allowed to wear gloves - except for an eye surgeon on the course. Sadly of course beekeeping lecturer posts have (?)all been abolished.

 

[B+.]

halfway through the theory some of the courses provide attendants with a 3-frame queenless nuc at around April, May or June. I think such a course would see more people remain beekeepers.

Did you really mean to say a QUEENLESS nuc?

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I suppose there is a market for 6-week courses (they're mostly for dreamers, I would imagine). On this side of the channel the courses typically consist of 8 theoretical and 8 practical sessions, and halfway through the theory some of the courses provide attendants with a 3-frame queenless nuc at around April, May or June. I think such a course would see more people remain beekeepers.

Don't forget that some people become beekeepers but don't join the local association (costs, etc). In the city where I live, the attrition is due to the high cost of club membership, low number of useful club meetings, and lack of room in the club apiaries (where space seeminly only becomes available when old beekeepers die). The high cost of bee boxes may also play a role.

In my association apiary space is provided for new beekeepers first year hives stocked from association sources and after that you're expected to take the hives away to another location. There are a couple of colonies there which belong to the association and very occasionally and subject to disease check an emergency stop gap home provided for hives that for one reason or another have to move from their own site quickly.

 

[Dishmop]

Well done you Karsal. Hell of a drop out rate though? What happened?

Not as simple as they thought.

 

[ugcheleuce]

Did you really mean to say a QUEENLESS nuc?

Yes. The newbie beek can then decide whether to buy a new queen (not expensive) and learn how to introduce it properly (learn how to calculate the stages of bee growth), or let the bees make their own new queen and maybe get to hear some tooting and quacking, if he's lucky.