7th-12th Beekeeping and Pollinator Gardening

The first semester will be an introduction to beekeeping. We will start by learning about all required equipment, move into identifying common pests and diseases, then learn proper treatment options and hive maintenance, and finish with an in depth look at honeybee behavior and the history of beekeeping. The second semester will focus on providing forage for our bees. We will learn the importance of having blooms for each season and which plants are most attractive to which pollinators. I will provide equipment needed and demonstrate how to start our flowers indoors so as to be ready to plant after the last frost of spring. At the end of the second semester I would very much like to provide a tour of my farm where we will identify honeybees, as well as native pollinators in action and then put on suits to open up my hives for an up close experience with our honeybees.