Introduction to Successful Beekeeping Workshop
Event information
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Fee: $75 per person.
Age: Ages 18 or older.
Contact: 708-946-2216
Location: Plum Creek Nature Center
Photo by Chad Merda
Event details
This six-week beekeeping course, to be held Tuesday evening from Feb. 20 to March 26, will teach you all you need to know to become a successful beekeeper. Mike Rusnak, a member of the Will County Beekeepers Association, has 18 years of experience teaching the beekeeping process. The workshop fee includes a personal copy of "The Backyard Beekeeper" by Kim Flottum.
Note: The March 19 and March 26 sessions will be at Monee Reservoir due to the anticipated closure of Plum Creek Nature Center for construction.
Workshop sessions will be as follows:
- Week 1 at Plum Cree Nature Center: History; why keep honeybees; resources and cost
- Week 2 at Plum Creek Nature Center: The honeybee: Anatomy, life cycle, castes, jobs and characteristics
- Week 3 at Plum Creek Nature Center: Equipment and stock: Hive components, tools, location, suppliers and races
- Week 4 at Plum Creek Nature Center: Management: Inspections, pests, parasites, diseases, feeding and treatments
- Week 5 at Monee Reservoir: Colony dynamics: Honey production, a year in the apiary, winter clustering and temperature regulation
- Week 6 at Monee Reservoir: Workshop examination and course feedback
Weather permitting, an optional off-site field day will be planned to correspond with installation of a package of honeybees in a Langstroth hive.
Event requirements
Registration required by Friday, Feb. 10: 708-946-2216.
The program will take place indoors in an accessible facility. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service to participate in this program should mention their request when registering, or submit a request online no later than 48 hours before the program.