Regenerative Beekeeping

At The Santa Cruz Permaculture Farm

A Comprehensive Approach To Beekeeping, Pollinator Habitat, And Biodiversity

Have you ever wanted to learn the skills needed to produce your very own honey? Interested in producing your own beeswax, pollen or propolis? Have you ever wanted to ensure your garden or farm has a sustained and healthy source of pollinators for a bountiful crop of fruits and veggies? We are pleased to offer this beginning level beekeeping practicum grounded in a natural approach to apiculture, with a focus on sustainable hive management, honey production and pollinator health.

Humankind’s relationship with bees reaches back to the dawn of time. Our dependence on bees for their role in our food systems, and our responsibility for their care continues to this day. Come engage with these incredible little beings and learn both the art and science of regenerative beekeeping.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Have knowledge of different hive styles and beekeeping equipment
  • Engage in seasonal care of honeybees
  • Promote honey production and understand harvesting techniques
  • Identify pests and hazards to the hive and mitigate them using IPM
  • Process beeswax to make candles, salves and countless other products
  • Create a customized pollinator garden plan for your home or farm so that you can promote pollinator health
  • Understand the intricate and fascinating life cycles, behavior, and natural history of the honey bee

Full Series: 6 Weekends Over 6 Months

Pricing

  • Full Tuition: $1295
  • Partner / Spouse Tuition: $995 (When one partner registers for the full course, the second gets a discount)
  • Early Bird Discount: $1195 (Register more than 30 days in advance)
  • Super Early Bird Discount: $1095 (Register more than 60 days in advance)
  • Teachers: $995 (Special price for For K-12, College and University Teachers)
  • Youth: $795 (Special price for ages 13-18)

Spring – Summer 2024

  • Springtime Prep – Mar 23-24, 2024
  • Growth – April 20-21, 2024
  • Harvest Time – June 8-9, 2024
  • Summer in the Apiary – July 27-28, 2024
  • The Bounty of the Bee – August 24-25, 2024
  • Preparing for Winter – October 5-6, 2024

Session Times: Sessions typically run 9am – 5:30pm both days, with a lunch break.

Spring – Summer 2025

  • Session 1: TBD
  • Session 2: TBD
  • Session 3: TBD
  • Session 4: TBD
  • Session 5: TBD
  • Session 6: TBD 2024

Session Times: Sessions typically run 9am – 5:30pm both days, with a lunch break.

Individual Sessions

If you don’t want to sign up for the full course but would like to sign up for an individual weekend, you’re welcome to do so! The tuition is $295 per weekend.

Growth – April 20-21, 2024

Harvest Time – June 8-9, 2024

Summer in the Apiary – July 27-28, 2024

The Bounty of the Bee – August 24-25, 2024

Preparing for Winter – October 5-6, 2024

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Session Descriptions

Classes run from 10am-5pm both days.

Session 1 – Springtime Prep (A Great Intro To Beekeeping!)

  • Weekend one provides a thorough overview to beekeeping and can be attended as a standalone workshop if you can’t join the whole series
  • Understanding different beekeeping styles
  • Building beekeeping equipment
  • Sourcing bees and installing an apiary
  • Beekeeping in community
  • ***Students who would like to start a hive at home will receive a 15% discount on nucs and hive equipment available for purchase

Session 2 – Growth

  • Expanding your apiary
  • Inspecting colonies
  • Planning a pollinator garden
  • Record keeping
  • Preparing for a honey crop

Session 3 – Harvest Time

  • Harvesting techniques for honey
  • Queen health and production
  • Planting flowers for bees
  • Beeswax processing

Session 4 – Summer In The Apiary

  • Summering your bees
  • Honey Bee nutrition and supplements
  • Common pests and diseases
  • Integrated pest management

Session 5 – The Bounty Of The Bee

  • Beeswax – nature’s most versatile material
  • Propolis production and use
  • Late season honey bee forage crops
  • Fall apiary management

Session 6 – Preparing For Winter

  • Winterizing bees
  • Equipment care
  • Medicinal honeys
  • Dreaming of spring

Date

Mar 23 2024 - Oct 06 2024
Expired!

Time

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Cost

$1,295.00

Location

Santa Cruz Permaculture

Permaculture Institute of North America:

Address

2091 Route 130
Harrison City, PA 15636

Phone Number

(412) 600-5783

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