Beginning Beekeeping: The Basics and Mid-Season Colony Health

So you're thinking of becoming a beekeeper? This workshop is an introduction to bees and beekeeping practices whether you're starting a backyard hive or are just curious about bees. We'll cover some basics on bees, their progress through spring and summer, and what to expect as colonies expand in the warmer, longer days. There will be a class outline, suggested reading, and additional recommendations provided. Instructors will bring an observation hive for you to see bees in action, and you'll also get to see GFE's hives from a distance.

The class is designed for absolute beginners so no prerequisite knowledge is required. We will have more beginning beekeeping classes this year, and each will emphasize what is happening in a beehive throughout the seasons. Keep checking our workshop schedule for more beekeeping workshops!

Instructors:

Our instructors are members of the San Francisco Beekeepers Association and experienced, longtime beekeepers.

• Philip Gerrie: Philip is past president of the San Francisco Beekeepers Association and has kept bees in SF for 25 years. He maintains and average of ten hives.
• Dan DeCuir: Dan is an avid gardener and backyard hen handler who has been keeping bees since 2006. He has been fascinated by social insects since childhood, when he dreamed of having a farm. He currently keeps three beehives in San Francisco: on a neighbor’s rooftop (at her request), at the Park Street Community Garden, and at Alemany Farm, where he has taught beginner beekeeper classes. He is a member of the San Francisco Beekeepers Association, and on the swarm catcher list - his first hive was a re-homed swarm. When not tending to his bees, Dan can be found planting vegetables and weeding in his plot at the Arlington Community Garden, feeding his backyard chickens, or trying to catch Dungeness crabs at local beaches.

No walk-up registration permitted for this course.

Full garden workshop schedule

What to bring to the workshop

Directions to the garden

More about some of our beekeeping and gardening instructors

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