ONCE0141 - Introduction To Beekeeping

Course Description

This course will inform potential beekeepers of the joys and responsibilities of successful beekeeping. Honeybees have pests and diseases that will kill them without the beekeeper’s help. During the first weekend, you’ll learn about apiary location requirements, how to obtain bees, essential equipment as well as important aspects of honeybee biology. This early start allows you to choose and order your beehive and bees at a time when they are readily available. During the second weekend, closer to the time that you will obtain your bees, we will discuss how to start and care for your new bee colony. Additional topics include seasonal management, important sources of nectar and pollen, honey production and harvesting. We will practice handling bees using bees located at the Temple University Ambler campus. Bring a bagged lunch to class. Recommend book: The Beekeeper’s Handbook, 5th edition.

No prior knowledge of honeybees or beekeeping is required. Class is taught by Vincent Aloyo, PhD, Master Beekeeper.

Notes

NOTES FOR SPRING 2022

All class sessions are scheduled to take place live, in-person at the Temple University Ambler campus:

Sat/Sun, February 12 and 13, 2022 from 11 AM to 3:30 PM & and Sat/Sun, March 26 and 27 from 11 AM to 3:30 PM

During the hands-on portion of the course, participants will have the opportunity to experience opening a beehive and handling honey bees; examine the hive for all four development stages of honey bees; look for males (drones) and the queen; demonstrate how to determine if the hive is healthy; observe bees returning to the hive with pollen and look for stored pollen and honey in the hive; demonstrate how to feed sugar syrup and pollen substitute and explain why such feeding may be necessary.

Temple University COVID-19 Mandate (Spring 2022)

If you plan to take an in-person, on-campus course at the Ambler campus (TUA) or the Center City campus (TUCC), you will be required to comply with Temple University's COVID mandate by confirming proof of vaccination or requesting and being approved for an exemption, which will require weekly testing. Click here for more information. In addition, if you are attending in-person class sessions, you may be required to obtain a non-credit OwlCard. An OwlCard is a Temple-specific photo ID that will give you access to campus building and classrooms. You will receive information about how to obtain your non-credit OwlCard after you have registered for classes.