2012 Classes

 

Certificate in Natural Topbar Beekeeping

Designed for beekeepers who would like to learn every aspect of beekeeping and turn their learning into a vocation.  These classes are taken as a series and include detailed instruction regarding:

 

  • obtaining bees, understanding genetic variance and races of honeybees available on the market
  • bee biology
  • hive design and construction
  • spring comb management, swarm suppression techniques
  • summer comb management, making divides
  • disease management, requeening hives, recognizing disease symptoms
  • harvesting honey
  • marketing hive products
  • making wax products such as lip balms, salves and candles
  • raising queens
  • catching swarms and doing hive removals
  • landscaping for bee forage
  • pollination contracts
  • winter management

 

The certificate classes will be held on the following Saturdays in Albuquerque, NM from 10 am - 5 pm at the Albuquerque Open Space Center on Coors Blvd.

(www.cabq.gov/openspace/visitorcenter.html)

 

  • Introduction to Beekeeping - April 28
  • Spring Hive Maintenance - May 19
  • Catching Swarms and Hive Removals - date to be announced
  • Summer Hive Maintenance - June 16
  • Queen Raising - July 21
  • Fall Hive Maintenance - August 25
  • Making Wax Products - September 8

 

The cost of the certificate course is $675 with a non-refundable deposit due by April 1st.  These classes may also be taken on a drop-in basis for $100 per class.  Students who complete the whole series will receive a certification diploma.

 

Backyard Beekeeping

This series of classes is designed for the backyard beekeeper who wants to learn beekeeping as a hobby.  The classes may either be taken as a series or individually.

 

  • Introduction to Beekeeping - This class will introduce students to beekeeping, help them to understand basic bee biology and hive architecture, and familiarize them with what being a beekeeper entails in terms of time commitment and the equipment required.
  • Spring Hive Maintenance - This class covers the honeybee hive when it is in its growth and expansion stage.  Students will learn the basics of hive propagation, swarming, queen development and what to expect from a healthy hive.
  • Summer Hive Maintenance - In this class, students will learn how to harvest honey, look for and recognize signs of disease or queen weakness, how to make divides of full hives, and requeen hives that are failing.
  • Fall Hive Maintenance - In this class, the hives will be evaluated for their preparedness for winter, winter hive maintenance techniques will be discussed and weak hives will be combined.  
  • Making Wax Products - This hands-on class will be spent making lip balm, salve and candles.  Students will learn about how to melt and process their own beeswax and the many ways in which it can be utilized in arts and crafts.

 

The Backyard Beekeeping series costs $70 per class or $325 for the series.  It will be offered in both Santa Fe, NM and Albuquerque, NM.  The classes will take place from 10 am - 3 pm with an hour lunch break.  Bag lunches are recommended so that students can eat together and discuss class content.  

The Albuquerque, NM classes will be held on the following Sundays at the Los Poblanos farm at 7525 Ray's CT SW: 

  • Introduction to Beekeeping - April 29
  • Spring Hive Maintenance - May 20
  • Summer Hive Maintenance - June 17
  • Fall Hive Maintenance - August 26
  • Making Wax Products - September 9

 

The Santa Fe, NM classes will be held on the following Saturdays at Arco Iris Institute at 2119 Botulph Rd.: 

 

  • Introduction to Beekeeping - May 5
  • Spring Hive Maintenance - June 2
  • Summer Hive Maintenance - August 4
  • Fall Hive Maintenance - September 22
  • Making Wax Products - October 6

 

 

Farm Apprenticeships

 

We welcome guests from out of town to come and stay with us as work exchange apprentices.  A fee of $50 per day includes food and camping accomodations.  Students should come with the expectation of working not only with the bees, but also on the farm doing chores such as weeding, harvesting and preparing honey and vegetables for market.  Our intensive farm season is from May through September, and all manner of work is being done during that time.  This opportunity is not the same as taking a class, and is only meant to provide students with a look at farm life as a whole.  If the weather is not conducive to looking through the bees, other chores will be attended to, so students who wish to come must leave any expectations about what they will learn behind and be willing to go with the flow.  The fee is meant to cover food, lodging and administrative expenses, and does not constitute a class fee.