Learn Urban Beekeeping: A Hands-On Workshop

One out of every three bites of food we eat is thanks to bees. They pollinate and thereby create many of the fruits, vegetables, and other food items we take for granted. And they promote the biodiversity of the flora they feed on, which helps the environment. Responsible beekeeping can greatly benefit your local ecosystem, and reward you with the gift of delicious “hyperlocal” raw honey. 

Discover from beekeeper Nick Hoefly, of Queens-based Astor Apiaries, how to establish and care for honey bees in an urban environment. Students will learn basic techniques, bee biology and behavior, equipment setup, pests and disease management, and ongoing care, and take a field trip to visit local beekeeper.

Classes will also cover the concepts and theories behind some of the most popular ways to care for bees. Through lecture and discussion, we will learn about the three castes of honey bees, their life and jobs, anatomy of individual bees and colonies, modern beekeeping practices, how to keep bees in the city, harvesting honey, and much more.

Weather permitting, students will take a field trip to a local bee yard to inspect and set up equipment, observe bees at work in the hive, and ask local beekeepers any questions. All equipment and tools will be provided. In case of inclement weather, including low temperatures, alternate dates will be scheduled later in the spring of 2018.

Note: 
A $10 materials fee is payable to the instructor. Also note appropriate attire will be provided to view bees. Limited Enrollment.