Classes
Learn about Bees and Beekeeping with us!
Beginner Beekeeping Bootcamp
In this class series we will cover:
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Bee biology, lifespan, colony activities, information about bees and their jobs
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Types of hives, hive parts and components
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What you need, packages versus nucs
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Assessing your location, where and how to set up your hive
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Planting for bees, creating an ideal habitat
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Foraging habits, bee nutrition, colony health
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Pest management, some how when and why
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What are the rules for Illinois and your town
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Beekeeping tools, what you need and why
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A season of bees, what to expect in your first year
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Some common first year mistakes and how to avoid them
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How you can turn your honey harvest into a sweet side hustle
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and more!
Beginner Beekeeping Basic Training 1
Mite Management and Bee Behaviors.
Learn how to inspect and understand basic bee behaviors and how to handle mite management which includes how to properly test for mites. This is a follow up class series to the Beginner Beekeeping Bootcamp for new and emerging beekeepers
Understanding mite management and how to properly assess the health of your colony can be one of the most important things to learn if you want to be a successful beekeeper.
Upon completion of this course you should be able to assess your colony for anything of concern to your colony's health and well being and know how to proceed with confidence.
You will understand the importance of testing for mites and be able to create a personalized treatment plan for your bees.
You will learn:
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The most important things you need to know in order to have a healthy colony.
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How to read your combs with confidence, gain understanding of the clues of diseases, their cause and effects.
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The colony's basic feeding needs; know what the bees need and when they need it.
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How to recognize and respond to parasites, pests and diseases
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Mite management, understanding your options from IPM to chemical treatments; knowing what to use and when to use it.
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Environmental Impacts for you to consider.
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How and why you should be performing mite tests. Learn the steps for doing a proper mite test so you are ready in advance of your season.
Bonus: Receive our guide on 'How to perform an autopsy on a dead out' to understand what went wrong and how to prevent future failures. If you have ever lost a beehive you can use this valuable tool to assess your hive after a collapse and learn from it.
Beginner Beekeeping Basic Training 2
From Fall Harvest thru Winter
Learn how to manage your hive in the season of transition from summer to fall. How to harvest your honey and how to best prepare your bees for fall and winter.
You will learn:
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How to harvest honey
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Proper labeling requirements for honey in Illinois
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Preparing you hive(s) for winter
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Fall feeding and treatment
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Tips for overwintering success
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Additional equipment you may need
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How to inspect your bees during winter
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How to make sugar boards or fondant
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Winter tasks in the beeyard
Private Mentorship and In Person Classes
Join us for a full season of in person classes with private mentorship and make sure you get the most out of our training. Three Bees offers in person classes all season long in our local bee yards. Gain more experience than you would just working your bees as you have an opportunity to experience more variables by learning hands on in multiple hives. We offer a discount for full season mentorship. Classes can also be attended individually. Contact us for information on what's available as classes change based on the season.
