Classes

Year-round monthly beekeeping workshop. This was created and run for many years by Jeff Ludwig. In 2013 the classes will be presented by a rotating group of SBA members, with occasional appearances by Jeff. In-season classes are held in the apiary of the forest preserve where participants can work with live bees in working hives.

Byron Forest Preserve
Beekeeping Workshops
Sundays 2:00-4:00pm, $2 per person/per class

2013 dates:

• January 13: Checking for winter kill and ordering bees for spring shipment
• February 10: Equipment needs and assembly of new equipment
• March 10: Feeding bees and preparing for splitting over-wintered colonies
• April 14: Feeding bees and installing packaged bees
• May 19*: Knowing when to put on supers and swarm prevention (Phillip Raines)
• June 9*: Honey extraction how-to's
• July 14*: Marketing strategies and health department updates
• August 11*: Checking for mites and overall health of bee colonies (Sue Kivikko)
• September 15*: Getting bees ready for over-wintering
• October 13: Over-wintering review for healthy bees (Sue Kivikko)
• November 10: Cleaning equipment and assembly of new equipment
• December 15: Christmas party for beekeepers, honey tasting, honey recipe samples, wassail, door prizes, and lots of bee talk! (Jeff Ludwig)

*Denotes outdoor workshop, weather permitting.
Bring your bee suits!

Jarret Prairie Center, 7993 N. River Rd., Byron
To sign up, call 815-234-8535 x200