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Welcome to Illiana Beekeepers Alliance

2023 Bee School

There's much to learn here.  Bee School is a time to immerse yourself in understanding the life of the Honey Bee.  Bring a notebook.  Write down questions you have.  Enjoy fun and educational insights into becoming a great beekeeper.

Dates, Details, and Registration

Dates for 2023 are March 11th & June 24th, 2023 from 8am-2pm CST

2023 IBA Bee School Details

March 11th 8am-2pm covers Early Spring-Late Summer Colony Management

June 24th 8am-2pm covers Early Fall-Late Winter Colony Management 

Cost is $25. which includes a free one year membership to the Illiana Beekeepers Alliance and Certificate of Attendance to the IBA Bee School.

This school is free to all current members.

a light lunch may be available


Location:

American Legion Post 101

108 1/2 Commerical Ave.

Lowell, IN, 46356


REGISTER AT THE BACK DOOR

Check in: door opens at 7:30am sharp

Class starts at 8am Sharp

Each person attending Bee School must be a current member or a family member living in the same household as the current member.


if you plan to attend and are a current member, let Carrie Anderson know 

Itinerary

We cover these topics and more

  

Illiana Beekeepers Alliance Introduction to Beekeeping Class 

There are 2 parts to this course- Spring & Fall

Spring class Date: March 11th, 2023 8am-2pm

Fall Class Date June 24th, 2023 8am-2pm


Spring covers time relevant topics described below and Fall covers the remaining topic relevant to fall preparations.


Some topics tht may be discussed:

Through years of reflection, we have focused this course strictly on what is necessary, honey bee husbandry.


This was our old itinerary:

1. The History of Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera) The Western Honey Bee

a. Every creature has its purpose

b. Feral bees and their origins-map

c. Enjoy the many species of honey bees

d. Ancient history of Beekeeping

e. Bees working for humans- how we try to utilize them in our lives

f. How we have adapted to the benefits of commercial beekeeping

a. Diet- abundance of honey & pollen

b. Medicine- medicinal properties, apitherapy, & propolis

c. Crop pollination 

d. Wax

2. Bee Anatomy & interesting facts

a. Eyes & vision

b. Nectar gathering tongue (proboscis) & different lengths

c. Honey stomach

d. Pollen sacs

e. Stinger- venom & reactions

f. The Cast system & Identification

1.  Queen

2.  Worker

3.  Drone

3. Modern methods of beekeeping an introduction to the Langstroth Hive

a. Bee Space- How bees perceive and respond to their surroundings.

b. Hive Body, Supers, Inner Cover, Top Cover, Entrance reducer, Bottom boards, Shims

c. Hive Stands-getting your bees off the ground

d. Feeders & when to use them- Frame feeders, multiple variations of top feeders, Boardman, bucket, patties, pollen

e. Frame types & Wax/plastic foundations

f. Queen excluders, propolis traps, pollen traps

4 Protective Clothing & tools

A. Veil & Suit

B. Gloves

C. Smokers

D. Hive tools, grippers, hammer, & other hand tools

5. Where to put your hive & thrive

 a. Breed preference

 b. Natural surroundings- 

c.   Food sources

d. Sun, shade, water, & wind

e. Irritants- vibration, other wildlife,  & the unknown

6. Introducing Nucleus colonies (Nuc’s) & package bees

A. Nucleus Colonies vs Package Bees

 B. Hive configuration & Queen Excluder

1. Only as big as they need

2. Only what they can defend

C. Installing a Nuc: Demonstration

D. Installing a Package of Bees: Demonstration

7. Feeding you bees & identifying nectar flow

A.  Feed mixtures & supplements.

B.  Lemongrass oil effects in supplements.

C. Identifying dearth periods.

D. Identify Robbing & how to stop it

8. Honey Bee Social structure and habits

 A. Identify Queen, Drone, Worker, Capped Brood, Capped Honey, Pollen. 

 B. An introduction to bee bee-havior and interpreting your observations.

9. Extracting & packaging Honey

 A. Identify Honey Bound

 B. How much honey will I get?

C. How to get bees out of the supers

 D. Methods of extraction & bottling

10. Overview of Pest Management

 A. Varroa mite counts & control

 B. SHB Small Hive Beetle Damage & Control

C.  Bee virus & disease  identification

11. Preparing your bees for winter

A. Emergency Food

B. Quilt box(hot box)

12. Open Session of Question & Answers


Copyright © 2022

 Illiana Beekeepers Alliance Inc - All Rights Reserved. 

The Illiana Beekeepers Alliance is an all inclusive and education based club focused on applying science, technology, and mentoring to create and maintain generations of innovative, knowledgeable beekeepers; making better beekeepers through mentor-ship to improve local bee stock.

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