February 15-16, 2025
University of Minnesota Arboretum, Chaska, MN
The University of Minnesota Bee Lab and Bee Squad will help you get started in beekeeping. If you have no prior experience keeping bees in our cold climate, Beekeeping in Northern Climates will teach you the foundations you need to know for success.
Topics include:
- Purchasing equipment and honey bees
- Hiving packages and installing nucleus colonies
- Choosing an apiary site
- Honey production and harvesting
- Successful strategies for the first winter
- Dividing colonies in spring to avoid swarms
- Introducing new queens to new divide colonies
- Preparing colonies for the second winter
- Best management practices for controlling diseases and mites
Lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided. Our manual “Beekeeping in Northern Climates, Third Edition” is also included. You will have the opportunity to visit with beekeeping vendors and watch demos of honey extraction, winter wrapping, and inspection of beeswax comb.
Fee: $230 member/$250 non-member includes Arboretum admission.
Instructors:
- Dr. Katie Lee, Apiculture Extension Educator, University of Minnesota
- Nelson Williams, Bee Lab Apiary Manager, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
- Jessica Helgen, Bee Squad Program Director, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
- Jenny Warner, Bee Squad Team Leader, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
Contact: For questions about the course, email Katie Lee at katielee@umn.edu
