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CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
MASSARO FARM BEEYARD
PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING CURRICULUM
CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Practical Beekeeping Syllabus
Massaro Farm Beeyard
Session 4 – September-October – Winter Hive Preparation/Hive Closing
Introductions, Announcements: Preliminary Questions and Answers. Preview stepby-step discussion about the course of instruction. Instructor should “walk” the
participants through the steps that will be taken during the instruction.
5 Minutes
Participant readiness: All participants entering the beeyard must have protective
clothing, minimally a veil which is supplied at the beginning of the program.
Cautions should be given to those participants without trousers and without long
sleeve shirts.
5 Minutes
Review of equipment needed for the instruction: protective clothing, large smoker,
smoker fuel, hive tool, brush, appropriate treatment medication. Demonstrate how
to start and maintain the smoker and apply smoke to the hive entrance.
5 Minutes
Demonstration of tipping the hives to determine approximate weight. Participants
should be allowed to get a “feel” for a 90 lb. hive.
15 Minutes
Demonstration of inspecting the hive and examining for clusters, inspection of
frames looking for sealed brood, eggs, larvae and honey. Inspection of at least 2
hives, repeating the step-by-step process.
20 Minutes
Discussion of varroa mite count techniques and equipment. Gather samples from
one or two hives and demonstrate the alcohol wash. Encourage participants to
examine the mites collected in the alcohol and count the mite level. Explain the
formula for estimating mite count and the threshold for intervention and/or
medication.
15 minutes
2013
RJM
CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Practical Beekeeping Syllabus
Massaro Farm Beeyard
Session 4 – September-October – Winter Hive Preparation/Hive Closing - continued
Discussion of the use of medication treatment with a review of the various types of
treatment available and consideration of the “economic threshold”.
10 Minutes
Review of the types of winter protection for the hive, and the use of fondant and
fondant candy during the winter. Discussion of conditions under which the hive can
be inspected under favorable weather conditions in January and February.
5 Minutes
Review and recap of the steps taken to prepare the hive for the winter
5 Minutes
Instructor equipment checklist:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Protective clothing
Supply of veils for participants
Smoker – large
Smoker fuel
Hive tool
Brush
Alcohol wash jars
Alcohol
Strainer
Medication
Evaluation sheets
Instructor Research
•
www.scientificbeekeeping.com
2013
RJM
CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Practical Beekeeping Syllabus
Massaro Farm Beeyard
Session 3 – August – Fall Hive Preparation, Inspection, Varroa Mite Inspection/Count, Feeding Methods
Introductions, Announcements: Preliminary Questions and Answers. Preview stepby-step discussion about the course of instruction. Instructor should “walk” the
participants through the steps that will be taken during the instruction.
5 Minutes
Participant readiness: All participants entering the beeyard must have protective
clothing, minimally a veil which is supplied at the beginning of the program.
Cautions should be given to those participants without trousers and without long
sleeve shirts.
5 Minutes
Review of equipment needed for the instruction: protective clothing, large smoker,
smoker fuel, hive tool, brush, appropriate treatment medication. Demonstrate how
to start and maintain the smoker and apply smoke to the hive entrance.
5 Minutes
Discussion of the types of varroa mites, their history in the United States, the life
cycle, monitoring and types of intervention. Estimates of hive loses within two
years without appropriate levels of intervention.
10 Minutes
Demonstration of varroa mite count methods: drop count using the panel in the
bottom board. Clean panel coated with vaseline or cooking spray; sugar roll
procedure, alcohol wash procedure.
20 Minutes
Sugar roll procedure: smoke the hive entrance and outer edges of frames to be
removed. Remove 2 outer frames, inspect 3rd, 4th and 5th frames. Sample
approximately 300 bees from brood box. A one-half cup measure contains the
measure needed. Add 2T of confectionery sugar and roll the jar for at least 2
minutes. To a white or light colored tray add a small amount of water and shake
the jar onto the tray dissolving the sugar and revealing the mites. Explain 2%
threshold and review the calculation of the mite count: number of mites divided by
3.Return frames to the hive and close hive with cover.
15 Minutes
Alcohol wash procedure: smoke the hive entrance and outer edges of frames to be
removed. Remove 2 outer frames, inspect 3rd, 4th and 5th frames. Sample
approximately 300 bees from the brood box. Place bees in alcohol wash jar and
shake for approximately 2 minutes. Examine bottom of jar for evidence of mites.
Explain 2% threshold and review the calculation of the mite count: number of mites
divided by 3. Return frames to the hive and close hive with cover.
15 Minutes
2013
RJM
CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Practical Beekeeping Syllabus
Massaro Farm Beeyard
Session 3 – August – Fall Hive Preparation, Inspection, Varroa Mite Inspection/Count, Feeding Methods continued
Describe the natural drop method for mite count and show the position of the drop
panel (white plastic sheet) in the hive bottom board. Explain the calculation of the
count by suggesting a count of over a period of 72 hours (3 days). A count of 50 or
more per day, a total of 150 mite count is the threshold for
intervention/medication. Replace the bottom board panel and close hive.
10 Minutes
Review supplemental feeding methods for the remainder of the season. Sugar mix
should be in a 2:1 sugar to water ratio going into the fall. Describe and
demonstrate feeding equipment, including top feeders, jar feeders, jar or bucket
feeders within an empty deep and below inner cover, jar over inner cover with
empty deep and telescoping cover, and frame or division board feeders.
5 Minutes
General review of instruction and important points to remember.
5 Minutes
Instructor equipment checklist:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Protective clothing
Supply of veils for participants
Smoker – large
Smoker fuel
Hive tool
Brush
Alcohol wash jars
Alcohol
Strainer
Medication
Sugar roll jars
Confectionery Sugar
Evaluation sheets
Instructor Research
•
www.scientificbeekeeping.com
2013
RJM
CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Practical Beekeeping Syllabus
Massaro Farm Beeyard
Session 2 – April – Spring Management Workshop - Introducing Bees to the Hive
Introductions, Announcements: Preliminary Questions and Answers. Preview stepby-step discussion about the course of instruction. Instructor should “walk” the
participants through the steps that will be taken during the instruction.
5 Minutes
Participant readiness: All participants entering the beeyard must have protective
clothing, minimally a veil which is supplied at the beginning of the program.
Cautions should be given to those participants without trousers and without long
sleeve shirts.
5 Minutes
Review of equipment needed for the instruction: protective clothing, large smoker,
smoker fuel, hive tool, brush. Demonstrate how to start and maintain the smoker
and apply smoke to the hive entrance.
5 Minutes
Demonstration of recommended installation of a package of bees. Define a
package of bees as a screen box of bees with a tin can feeder and a queen in a
separate cage. Describe permanent location conditions for the placement of the
hive. The hive entrance should face south or east. Discuss advance preparation of
sugar syrup in a 1:1 ratio.
20 Minutes
Lift the cover on the package using a hive tool and exposing the tin can of sugar
syrup. Soundly hit the package on the ground to settle the bees to the bottom of
the package so that the queen cage can be removed without too many bees
escaping. Remove the queen cage and recover the package. Exam the queen,
remove the cork of the queen cage at the candy end. Install the queen cage with
the candy end up between the 5th and 6th frames near the top and center of the
frames. Demonstrate the use of string or wire to hold the cage in place. Explain
that the screen on the cage should face the entrance of the hive not the
foundation. Shake the remaining bees from the package into the hive and place
the inner cover on top and then the telescoping cover. Leave the package with the
remaining bees in front of the hive.
20 Minutes
Demonstration of recommendation of installation of a nucleus package of bees.
Define a nucleus as a mated queen with a frame of two of her brood and additional
frames of honey and pollen.
20 Minutes
2013
RJM
CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Practical Beekeeping Syllabus
Massaro Farm Beeyard
Session 2 – April – Spring Management Workshop - Introducing Bees to the Hive – continued
Transfer frames from the nuc to the hive gently smoke the bees down into the
frames and install the inner and telescoping covers. Dump any remaining bees in
front of the hive as close to the entrance as possible.
10 Minutes
Review supplemental feeding methods for the remainder of the season. Sugar mix
should be in a 2:1 sugar to water ratio going into the fall. Describe and
demonstrate feeding equipment, including top feeders, jar feeders, jar or bucket
feeders within an empty deep and below inner cover, jar over inner cover with
empty deep and telescoping cover, and frame or division board feeders.
10 Minutes
General review of instruction and important points to remember.
Instructor equipment checklist:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Protective clothing
Supply of veils for participants
Smoker – large
Smoker fuel
Hive tool
Brush
Sugar roll jars
Confectionery Sugar
Evaluation sheets
Packages of bees
Nucs
Instructor research
•
Connecticut Beekeeping – Starting Beekeeping
2013
RJM
CONNECTICUT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Practical Beekeeping Syllabus
Massaro Farm Beeyard
Session 1 – March - New Hive Assembly
Introductions, Announcements: Preliminary Questions and Answers. Preview stepby-step discussion about the course of instruction. Instructor should “walk” the
participants through the steps that will be taken during the instruction.
5 Minutes
Participant readiness: All participants entering the beeyard must have protective
clothing, minimally a veil which is supplied at the beginning of the program.
Cautions should be given to those participants without trousers and without long
sleeve shirts.
5 Minutes
Review of equipment needed for the instruction: protective clothing, large smoker,
smoker fuel, hive tool, brush. Demonstrate how to start and maintain the smoker
and apply smoke to the hive entrance.
5 Minutes
Demonstrate the assembly of a deep hive body with instructions on size of nails,
type of weatherproof glue and sealing, painting or staining.
20 Minutes
Demonstrate the assembly of medium supers with instructions on size of nails, type
of weatherproofing glue and sealing, painting or staining.
20 Minutes
Demonstrate the assembly of frames and foundation. Describe the various types of
foundations available for purchase. Compare wooden frames with plastic or wax
foundation with plastic frames. Discuss the difference black and natural colored
foundation.
20 Minutes
General discussion of the grades of wooden ware, assembled, unassembled kits.
Describe medium brood foundation and drone foundation.
10 Minutes
General review of instruction and important points to remember.
10 Minutes
2013
RJM

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