Longtime Apiarist Dick Crawford, who is also president of the Champlain Valley Beekeepers Association, has graciously offered to teach us. The time requirements are pretty minimal and we can add on extra class sessions depending on how involved we want to get, but the basics will break down like this:

We’ll meet two times in the winter to get familiar with the process and order our supplies. The next meeting will be to set up our hives in the spring (late April) and then about once a month through the summer. A fall meeting will be needed to put the hives to bed. So a minimum of 6-7 meetings for the year.

Dick is only available on Tuesday nights, so that’s when the classes will be held.  Our first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 4 Palmer St., and the time will be from 6-7:30 p.m.

The garden group will buy all the supplies needed to get started with two hives, which we are planning to keep at our Hulbert Garden site on Route 3 (across from Wendy’s and Walmart plaza).

Each bee-keeper will pay $50 for the class (to compensate Dick for his time) and be responsible for ordering his/her protective clothing. (We are also considering a fundraiser to go toward purchasing some gear that the garden group would own and loan out to people). We will cover what to get and how to buy it at the first meeting and collect the class fee at that time.

Payment of $50 fee is due at first class or please pay online at this link: PayPal $50 Beekeeping Class Payment