Mayo Beekeepers Beginners Course 2022

Mayo Beekeepers Association, Ballina

Are you interested in honeybees? Do you ever wonder how honeybees collect nectar and pollen and turn them into honey? How do honeybees know what flowers and plants to go to and where they are? If you would like to become a beekeeper and find the answers to these questions and many more, then join the introductory lecture from the Mayo Beekeepers Beginners Course. The course will be delivered by an experienced beekeeper and the first lecture will be an introduction, with the course proper starting the following week. We will be holding these lectures online, with classes for 2022 taking place every Monday from 8pm to 9:30pm, for eight classes in total. Anyone who lives in the Mayo area will be encouraged to do practical work when weather permits during the months of April, May and June. This is where you will also learn hands-on, how to assemble frames and boxes. After the classes, you will hopefully have plenty of opportunities to gain hands-on experience with the honeybees in our apiary. Of course, these practical classes all depend on the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.​The entire course culminates in a straightforward exam in June which will be online and awarded a certificate of attendance towards the FIBKA Preliminary Certificate of Proficiency in Beekeeping. This includes a practical part that will be completed when COVID-19 restrictions lift. If you are interested please register via this page; places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.The details of what will be covered are below:7th February: Introduction14th February: Basic Beekeeping Equipment Hive types, frame types, foundation, smoker, hive tool types, etc.21st February: Natural History of the Honey Bee (1)Life cycle of queen, workers and drones, characteristics and functions of three castes, the production and use of beeswax in the hive.28th February: Natural History of the Honey Bee (2)Collection and use of nectar, pollen, water and propolis in the hive, pollination, sources of nectar and pollen, communication by foragers.7th March: SwarmingThe swarming process, swarm prevention and control, hiving a swarm14th March: The Beekeeping Year Apiary hygiene, spring management, summer management, Hooper&#x27;s questions, uniting colonies, robbing.21st March: The Honey HarvestClearing bees, uncapping, extracting, straining, settling and bottling, crystallisation, fermentation.28th March: Prevention and Control of DiseaseCauses, symptoms, detection, prevention and treatment of main adult and brood diseases, laying workers, drone-laying queen.4th April: Preparing for WinterWinter behaviour of colonies, preparing colonies for winter, feeding beesTBD: Frame and Hive Assembly(A practical, hands-on session for those who would like to learn to assemble their own hive parts. Normally held on a Saturday morning).TBD (a date to be decided by FIBKA): FIBKA Preliminary Exam which is a 30 minutes online exam followed by apiary practical examination when appropriate. Exam fee is €20Course Cost​Option 1: €70 for course only. There will be no option to handle bees or to complete the examinationOption 2: €140 which includes:<ul><li>Classes and material</li><li>A copy of comprehensive notes with exam questions and answers</li><li>One year&#x27;s membership of Mayo Beekeepers&#x27; Association</li><li>One year&#x27;s membership of <a href="https://irishbeekeeping.ie/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">FIBKA</a>, the national beekeeping body</li><li>Annual subscription to FIBKA&#x27;s <a href="https://irishbeekeeping.ie/an-beachaire-the-fibka-beekeeping-journal/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">An Beachaire</a> magazine delivered by mail</li><li>Participation in the FIBKA insurance scheme</li><li>Does not include €20 fee for FIBKA Preliminary Exam</li></ul>The fee is waived for persons under 18 years old, but they must be accompanied by a responsible adult.How to sign upThe easiest way to sign up is to register via this page. When registration is closed, we will issue another email for pre-payment. Much thanks for your interest in this course.Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Mayo Beekeepers Beginners Course 2022

More events from Mayo Beekeepers Association, Ballina

Discover more events from Mayo Beekeepers Association, Ballina, from Hobbies to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all online events to browse and filter by date, category, and more.

Mayo Beekeepers Beginners Course 2022

More events from Mayo Beekeepers Association, Ballina

Discover more events from Mayo Beekeepers Association, Ballina, from Hobbies to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all online events to browse and filter by date, category, and more.