Education in beekeeping

The Co. Waterford Beekeepers’ Association offers an annual Beekeeping for Beginners course, designed to provide the foundational knowledge and skills needed to keep bees successfully. The course consists of six weeks of theory in the classroom, followed by two weeks of practical hands-on experience in the apiary.

The following topics are covered:

  1. The Beekeeping Year – preparing for the following year, checking colonies and preparing for spring, build-up, and foraging
  2. An Introduction to Honey Bees and Pollinating Insects – general introduction and overview, importance of pollination and pollinating insects, occupants of the hive, their life and role of each caste, lifecycle of the honey bee, suggested reading on honey bees, bee terminology, and summary
  3. Swarming – causes, controlling swarming, and the principles behind swarm control to avoid losing the honey crop
  4. Products of the Hive – harvesting honey, types of honey, alcohol using honey, wax products, encaustic art, pollen, propolis, and venom therapy
  5. Bee Health – importance of hygiene for healthy bees, adult bee health, brood bee health, pests (mice, wasps), and parasites (Varroa, small hive beetle)
  6. The Hive – different types of hives, different parts of the hive, how to work the hive, suppliers of equipment, the importance of getting Native Irish Honey Bees, and joining the local association and its benefits.

For those wishing to continue and advance their education in beekeeping, the Co. WBKA follows the IBA CLG syllabus, with intermediate and senior certification as the natural progression following the preliminary beekeeping level.

The Beekeeping for Beginners course is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in beekeeping to learn from experienced beekeepers, gain foundational knowledge, and obtain practical experience in beekeeping. Joining the course also provides access to a network of local beekeepers, which can be beneficial to beginners in the field.

For more information about the course and beekeeping, please contact the Co. Waterford Beekeepers’ Association through their email address, waterfordbeekeepers@gmail.com.