Warm Colors Bee Education

Dan is a life member of the Eastern Apicultural Society, and a member of the Massachusetts Beekeeper Association. He regularly participates in workshops to improve and update his beekeeping skills. Through selective breeding, integrated pest management, and the use of alternative, non-chemical treatments, we endeavor to create an apiary management system designed to eliminate sources of potential contamination to our products, honeybees and farm environment.

Our programs are focused on hands on participation. Typically we review our topic and then apply the tasks to actual honeybee colonies. Our workshops and classes provide new or experienced beekeepers with practical knowledge based on many years of managing honey producing colonies.

2012 Schedule Just Released!
Workshops can be taken as a six part course, or as a single session class. Sessions 3-6 include time in the beeyard so protective clothing is required. Dates may change or be rescheduled in the event of unsuitable weather (same time on a Sunday).

Our "Beginning in Beekeeping" course includes all six sessions, book, DVD, and handouts.

Individual sessions include handouts.

Equipment, supplies and Bees can be purchased separately from Warm Colors. Students enrolled in the complete course receive special offers on beekeeping tools, hives and package bees.

DVD: A Day in the Life of a Honeybee Farm

Cost: $19.95

This introductory video gives a complete overview of the basics of beekeeping.
View a clip from the video.

Complete Introduction to Beekeeping

Cost: $250.00

Beginning in Beekeeping includes all workshops listed below, handouts, DVD and textbook. Topics are presented to anticipate the annual cycle of events in the honey bee colony. By teaching beekeeping in real-time we hope to reinforce the connection between hive dynamics and the tasks a beekeeper performs in the bee yard.

Workshop #1: Honeybee Behavior & Biology

Cost: $50.00

A Honeybee's evolution, unique physical adaptations, and colony behaviors are essential to its health and long term survival. A Beekeepers understanding of honey bee biology and colony behavior is basic to a successful management plan.

Class	Date	Time	Location
Session #1	February 26th, 2012	1pm - 3:30pm	Sunderland Library

Workshop #2: Seasonal Management

Cost: $50.00

Each month requires different tasks and strategies to anticipate and react to a honeybee colony's cycle of population increase and decrease. This lesson provides a years overview of the month by month management tasks the beekeeper needs to know and complete. The focus is on Northeastern conditions and using non-chemical "do no harm" approaches.

Class	Date	Time	Location
Session #1	March 25th, 2012	1pm - 3:30pm	Sunderland Library

Workshop #3: Spring Management

Cost: $50.00

April - June are critical months in a honeybees life. This is the busiest time for beekeepers and the work has a significant impact on how well a colony grows and produces honey. Program includes package installation, feeding, inspecting startup hives, and the key points where intervention & timing can correct a problem.

Class	Date	Time	Location
Session #1	April 22nd, 2012	9AM - 11:30AM OR 1pm - 3:30pm	Warm Colors Apiary

Workshop #4: Queens and Queen Rearing

Cost: $50.00

The Queen is the most important individual in a bee hive. Here we learn to evaluate and raise replacement Queens focusing on selection for desirable characteristics that balance colony needs with the beekeepers goals. Three methods for raising Queens will be demonstrated: use of nucs, Cloake boards and the Doolittle method. Raising Queens is no longer an advanced skill it is todays best hope for improving all beekeeping.

Class	Date	Time	Location
Session #1	June 10th, 2012	9AM - 11:30AM OR 1pm - 3:30pm	Warm Colors Apiary

Workshop #5: IPM for Modern Beekeeping

Cost: $50.00

Prior to the introduction of Varroa and Tracheal mites in the late 1980s chemical treatments used in the hive were few, and beekeepers resisted any treatment that could leave residuals that harm either products or the health of honeybees. IPM is a system of using all possible controls with chemicals a last resort. This workshop addresses common disease and pests of honey bees. By providing clear, proven approaches to preventing and controlling pathogens using the latest (tested) treatments. Mites, foulbrood, chalkbrood, mammals, birds and viruses will be reviewed.

Class	Date	Time	Location
Session #1	July 15th, 2012	9AM - 11:30AM OR 1pm - 3:30pm	Warm Colors Apiary

Workshop #6: Fall Management

Cost: $50.00

Preparing bees for the long New England winter is the final exam of beekeepers. This workshop reviews steps to successful wintering, removing honey & extracting, and stresses the importance proper fall preparation contributes to spring health and population growth.

Class	Date	Time	Location
Session #1	August 19th, 2012	9AM - 11:30AM OR 1pm - 3:30pm	Warm Colors Apiary