Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers (A2B2)
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    • Educational Outreach
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Bee School Schedule: Intermediate

2023 Class Schedule

All sessions will be in the auditorium, except where noted.

  • 2/5 – Session 1:  2pm - 4:30pm​
    • Equipment needs / season overview / bee biology
    • Hive Autopsy:  Examining a Dead-Out
    • Mid-Winter Care
    • Signs of a strong hive.  Signs of a hive needing a mid-course correction
    • Hive Setup Options: Langstroth, Top Bar, Warre and Flow Hives
    • Feeders and feeding techniques

  • 3/5 – Session 2:  2pm - 4:30pm​
    • Suggested goals for the second year and beyond
    • Varroa Mites
      • Biology of the Varroa Mite
      • Improving your Varroa strategy:  Beekeeping with greater purpose
      • Varroa Management Tools & Techniques
    • Honey Tasting

  • 3/11 – Build Day in the Head House/Greenhouse (note that this is a Saturday)

  • 4/16 – Session 3:  2pm - 4:30pm​
    • Package Bees and Nucs
    • Installing your bees:  review/variations
    • Making your hive their home
    • Early Splits:  Timing, Techniques
    • Queen Rearing Techniques for the backyard beekeeper
    • Wall to wall brood:  Ramping up for the honey flow
    • Free Bees!: 
      • Trapping Swarms
      • Retrieving Swarms
      • Hiving Captured Swarms

  • 5/7 – Session 4:  2pm - 5pm
    • Pests and Pathogens
      • Small hive beetles, wax moths signs and remediation
    • The importance of hive strength
    • Reading the frames
    • Comb production
    • The significance of pheromones in the hive
    • 3:30pm - 5:00pm, hands on in the bee yard

  • 6/11 – Session 5:  2pm - 5pm at the Head House/Greenhouse​
    • Honey Plants, Trees and Crops
    • Supering Techniques:  What, why and when
    • Generating an income through beekeeping
    • 3:30pm - 5:00pm, hands on in the bee yard

  • 7/16 – Session 6:  2pm - 5pm​
    • Making Late Season Splits
    • Honey Harvesting:  Timing, Techniques and Tools
    • 3:30pm - 5:00pm, hands on in the bee yard

  • 8/13 – Session 7:  2pm - 5pm​
    • Fall Management / Disease Control / Combining Hives
    • 3:30pm - 5:00pm, hands on in the bee yard

  • 9/17 – Session 8:  2pm - 5pm​​
    • Fall Management / Preparing for Winter
      • Three things to protect your bees against in winter
      • Winterizing prep and techniques
      • Signs of a strong hive ready for winter
    • 3:30pm - 5:00pm, hands on in the bee yard

  • 10/8 – Session 9:  2pm - 4:30pm
    • Winter Management
      • Timing
      • Bees in winter
      • Early feeding
      • Preparing for spring
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Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers Club (A2B2) is dedicated to beekeeping education, mentoring, networking, and advocacy within the Ann Arbor area. We provide an informational and social venue for beekeepers of all levels to cooperate and share experiences. We are a non-profit organization that is open to all individuals interested in honeybees and beekeeping.  Donations qualify for federal tax deductions.
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  • Club
    • Who We Are
    • Join/Renew
    • Donate
  • Blogs
    • A2B2 Blog
    • Flow Hive Team
    • A, Bee, C's
  • Class Registration
  • Education
    • About Bee School
      • Beginner Schedule
      • Intermediate Schedule
    • Mel Disselkoen's Queen Rearing Workshop
    • Educational Outreach
    • Resources and Info Links
  • Vendors
  • Members Only