Certification in Natural Topbar Beekeeping

Designed for beekeepers who would like to make a vocation out of natural topbar beekeeping.  These classes are taken as a series and include detailed instruction regarding:

  • obtaining bees, understanding genetic variance in honeybees
  • bee biology
  • hive design, making hives
  • spring comb management, swarm suppression
  • summer comb management, making divides
  • raising queens
  • harvesting honey
  • marketing honey and other hive products
  • refining wax, making value added products such as salves, candles and soap
  • landscape management for bees
  • winter management
  • understanding disease
  • beekeeping as a community service, removing swarms and hives
  • pollination contracts

The certification classes will be held on the following Sundays in Santa Fe, NM, from 9am - 6pm:

  • April 25 - Introduction to Beekeeping
  • May 16 - Hive Building
  • May 30 - Spring Hive Maintenance
  • June 20 - Summer Hive Maintenance
  • July 11 - Queen Raising
  • July 25 - Catching Swarms and Setting Traps
  • August 29 - Fall Hive Maintenance
  • Sept 12 - Wax Products 

Cost of the Certification Course - $675 with a non-refundable deposit of $200 due by April 1st.  This class may also be taken on a drop-in basis for $100 per class.  Students who complete all of the classes will receive a certification diploma.  

Backyard Beekeeping (Classes for the hobbyist):

These classes are designed for small home operations.  They may be taken either individually or as a series.  The series will be taught in both Albuquerque, NM and Rio Lucio, NM.

  • Introduction to Beekeeping:  This class will include instruction on obtaining bees, building a hive and understanding basic bee biology.
  • Spring Hive Maintenance:  This class is for students who already have bees and would like to understand how to suppress swarming, manage combs as the hive is growing and recognize signs of a healthy queen and brood nest.
  • Summer Hive Maintenance:  This class will spend detailed time in hives, looking at comb maintenance, troubleshooting problems and understanding hive development.  Making divides and raising queens will also be covered in this class.
  • Fall Hive Maintenance:  This class will look at how to harvest and process honey, combine weak hives, evaluate winter stores of honey, and prepare the hives for the cold season.
  • Making Wax Products:  This class will teach students how to make their own solar wax melter, refine wax, and make salves, candles and soap.

The Backyard Beekeeping classes will be held on the following Sundays from 10am - 5pm. 

Rio Lucio, NM:

  • May 9 - Introduction to Beekeeping
  • June 6 - Spring Hive Maintenance
  • August 8 - Summer Hive Maintenance
  • Sept. 5 - Fall Hive Maintenance
  • Sept. 26 - Making Wax Products

Albuquerque, NM:

  • April 11 - Introduction to Beekeeping
  • April 18 - Spring Hive Maintenance
  • May 23 - Summer Hive Maintenance
  • August 15 - Fall Hive Maintenance
  • September 19 - Making Wax Products

Cost of Backyard Beekeeping Classes - $100 per class or $425 for the series.  If you would like to take the full series, a $100 non-refundable deposit is due by April 1st.  Sliding scale discounts available upon request.

Out-of-Towners Intensive

This class is available for folks coming from out of state who would like to learn natural topbar beekeeping.  It will be a four day intensive course covering the same material as the Backyard Beekeeping courses.

The Intensive will take place August 19 - 22 in Rio Lucio, NM from 9am - 5pm each day. 

Students are welcome to camp out at the class location.  Otherwise there are hotels and bed and breakfasts available within half an hour drive.  Three meals a day are provided as part of the cost of the intensive.

Cost of Out-of-Towners Intensive:

$475 including meals.