A2B2 2021 Intermediate Bee School Dates & Times

 

  • 2/7/21 - Session 1: 2:00-5:00 (Virtual).
    • Equipment needs / season overview / bee biology
    • Hive Autopsy: Examining a Dead-Out
    • Signs of Pests & Pathogens
    • Mid-Winter Care
    • Signs of a strong hive. Signs of a hive needing a mid-course correction
    • Hive Setup Options: Langstroth, Top Bar, Warre and Flow Hives
    • Feeders and feeding techniques

  • 2/24/21 - Zoom Session Beginner & Intermediate Combined 
      • 7:30 - 8:30 PM

 

  • 3/7/21 – Session 2: 2:00-4:00 (Virtual)
    • Suggested goals for the second year and beyond
    • The significance of understanding the nature of bees
    • Varroa Mites
      • Biology of the Varroa Mite
      • Improving your Varroa strategy: Beekeeping with greater purpose
      • Varroa Management Tools & Techniques
    • Small Scale Queen Rearing

 

  • 3/20/21 – Build Day 10:00-4:00 (Location 625 Avis Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48108

 

  • 4/11/21 – Session 3: 2:00-4:00 (Virtual)
    • Package Bees and Nucs:
    • Installing your bees: review/variations
    • Making your hive their home
    • Early Splits: Timing, Techniques
    • Queen Rearing Techniques for the backyard beekeeper
    • Wall to wall brood: Ramping up for the honey flow
    • Free Bees!:
      • Trapping Swarms
      • Retrieving Swarms
      • Hiving Captured Swarms
  • 4/25/21 Nuc Delivery/Pickup
  • 5/4/21  Package Bee Delivery/Pickup

 

  • 5/16/21 – Session 4: Lecture 2:00-3:30 at MBG (Possibly Outside)
    • Pests and Pathogens
      • Small Hive Beetles, Wax Moths Signs and remediation
    • The importance of Hive Strength
    • Reading the Frames
    • Comb Production
    • The Significance of pheromones in the hive
      • 3:30-5:00 Hands on in the bee yard

 

  • 6/13/21 – Session 5: Lecture 2:00-3:30 at MBG (Possibly Outside)
    • Honey Plants, Trees and Crops
    • Supering Techniques: What, why and when
    • Generating an income through beekeeping
      • 3:30-5:00 Hands on in the bee yard
  • 7/11/21 – Session 6: Lecture 2:00-3:30 at MBG (Possibly Outside)
      • Making Late Season Splits
      • Honey Harvesting:  Timing, Techniques and Tools
        • 3:30-5:00 Hands on in the bee yard

 

  • 8/15/21 – Session 7: Lecture 2:00-3:30 at MBG (Possibly Outside)
    • Fall Management / Disease Control / Combining Hives
      • 3:03-5:00 Hands on in the bee yard

  

  • 9/12/21: - Session 8: Lecture 2:00-3:30 at MBG (Possibly Outside)
    • Fall Management / Preparing for Winter
      • Three things to protect your bees against in winter
      • Winterizing prep and techniques
      • Signs of a strong hive ready for winter
        • 3:30-5:00 Hands on in the bee yard
    • 10/17/21: - Session 9: Lecture 2:00-3:30 at MBG (Possibly Outside)
      • Winter Management
        • Timing
        • Bees in winter
        • Early Feeding
        • Preparing for spring