Beginning Beekeeping: Bees in Winter and Preparing to Beekeep Next Year

1590 7th Avenue,San Francisco CA 94122

25 September, 2021

Description

Learn about beekeeping basics, what happens with bees in the winter, and how to prepare to start beekeeping next year. Whether you're already keeping bees or simply curious about what beekeeping involves, there will be something for you in this class. We'll cover some basics on bees, the progress of them through the seasons, and what to expect as colonies prepare for the chillier, darker days of winter. We'll also outline how you can prepare for beekeeping in 2022 if you plan to start your own hive.  The class is designed for beginners so no prerequisite knowledge is required. You will be able to view bees in a hive during the workshop. Bee suits will be provided by the instructors. Instructors: Instructor Marc Johnson completed GFE's Get Up! (Gardening and Composting Educator Program) in 2010 and has volunteered at the garden ever since. He and partner Pilar Leano first put hives at GFE in early 2015 and manage about a dozen hives, mostly in Western San Francisco. Marc is on the board of the SF Beekeepers Association and volunteers his time and energy to promote urban beekeeping. Paul Koski's interest in honeybees, and insects in general, began as a graduate student when he studied entomology at San Francisco State University and UC Berkeley. He taught high school biology and science classes in San Francisco for many years. After retiring in 2008 he was able to spend more time with honeybees and beekeeping. Paul has tended honeybee hives in San Francisco for more than 20 years and has taught many beekeeping classes for the Garden for the Environment, San Francisco Beekeepers Association, community gardens, and other groups. COVID-19 information (as of July 2021): GFE Mask Guidelines: Masks are optional for vaccinated participants and required for all unvaccinated participants. You will be required to sign a liability waiver upon arrival. Please cancel your shift and do not come to GFE if you develop COVID19 symptoms on or before the day of your workshop (fever, chills, repeated shaking / shivering, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, feeling unusually weak or fatigued, new loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, headache, runny or congested nose, or diarrhea)GFE will continue to monitor the COVID19 situation in San Francisco and make any necessary changes to the workshop based on City guidelines.No walk-up registration permitted for this course. Full garden workshop schedule What to bring to the workshop Directions to the Garden More about our Gardening Instructors We are San Francisco's teaching and demonstration garden - learn to garden with us!Our workshops teach people to garden sustainably and our instructors are gardening experts with years of experience. We believe in hands-on education and design our workshops to be dynamic and educational.