Now taking registrations for classes at Rhode Island College and at the University of Rhode Island. See below for info!
Why do people keep bees? It's a good hobby for people who love nature and enjoy watching and learning about bees and the flowers they pollinate and gather nectar from. It insures that you will always have good pollination in your gardens. Some people keep bees because they love honey! Some people even keep bees because they have arthritis and wish to get stung to alleviate arthritic symptoms.
The Rhode Island Beekeepers Association teaches beginner beekeeping classes every year in February and March.
Topics covered include:
Getting started
The honeybee life cycle
Choosing an apiary
Buying bees and equipment
Installing package bees
Catching Swarms
Bee diseases and pests
Spring Inspections
Getting ready for the honeyflow
Wintering bees
There will be a variety of beekeeping equipment displayed and demonstrated each week. Beekeeping catalogs and other handouts will be distributed and several beekeeping videos will be shown.
2013 Bee School Schedule
Note: registration is now open for both RIC and URI classes.
Rhode Island College, Providence
Two classes are offered at the RIC location this year; one on Friday morning and one on Saturday morning.
Instructor: Betty Mencucci
Textbook: First Lessons in Beekeeping, by Keith S. Delaplane, University of Georgia
Friday mornings: Feb 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday mornings: Feb 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2 from 10:00 am -12:30 pm
NOTE: RIC requires parking passes. See the Registration Form for details.
University of Rhode Island, Kingston
One URI Cooperative extension beekeeping class is offered this year. It is on Tuesday nights at 6:30, starting on February 5th, at the CBLS (Room 10), and runs for a period of five-weeks.
Instructor: Jeff McGuire
Textbook: First Lessons in Beekeeping, by Keith S. Delaplane, University of Georgia
Tuesday nights: Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, Mar 5 - 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Costs
The fee for these 5-week courses is $65 per person (note: additional family members in the same household may attend for only $10 per person.)
This fee includes one copy of the textbook and all handouts. Beekeeping catalogs will be distributed, as well as information on how to acquire bees.
Your registration also covers your first year's membership in the Rhode Island Beekeeping Association allowing you to receive the Association's quarterly newsletters replete with great tips and information on beekeeping in the Rhode Island area. The Association has monthly meetings at various locations in the state where you will get to meet other beekeepers and participate in the Association's activities.
Registration
Please download, print out and complete the 2013 Bee School Registration Form. Mail it to the address below along with your check.
(Right click or option-click the link and choose "Save As..." to download.)
Make check payable to the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association and send with registration to:
RIBA
c/o Betty Mencucci
1777 Victory Highway
PO Box 684
Glendale, RI 02826
Questions? For more information about the Bee School, email Betty Mencucci.
