Workshops & Meetings
VBA Workshops (listed below in green) are held on Saturdays from 11am - 1pm weather permitting unless otherwise noted. Rain days are the following day. Workshops go into the bees and open colonies, so you are encouraged to bring a veil and bee suit if necessary. VBA Workshops are free and open to the public and are an excellent introduction to beekeeping. (Exceptions to that rule will be posted here.) Unless otherwise noted, all VBA Workshops are held at the Northern Yard - directions below. If an event requires registration, a link to a registration page will be provided.
If a workshop or event is cancelled due to weather, we will post a message here.
VBA Classes & Workshops
VBA is slowly transitioning back to in-person workshops. (We are using Zoom to conduct online workshops.)
Beekeeping Basics
Classes for beginning beekeepers have been available at Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) for many years. These classes are taught by instructors with over 50 years beekeeping experience between them and are a perfect way to begin your beekeeping journey. While these classes require a modest fee, they are an excellent way to get started!
Have you thought about keeping bees? This is the opportunity to learn more about these vital and fascinating creatures providing so much of our food. The instructors have over 50 years of experience among them. The three sessions will enlighten, and maybe inspire, you to start a few hives of your own or learn more about your bee passion. Plenty of question-and-answer time and all the info needed to start your own operation.
Workshops
The Vermont Beekeepers Association offers hands-on training workshops for beekeepers of all levels. These workshops are generally free and are also open to the public; no experience necessary. The workshops are designed to parallel the Vermont beekeeping season starting off with unpacking hives for Spring and finishing with preparing the hives for Winter. In between the two you will learn how to identify common hive issues, hive management techniques, honey extraction and general good beekeeping practices. VBA workshop instructors will be available to you on specific Saturdays starting in April ending in September. See the VBA calendar for the dates and times.
South Yard Workshops Are Back!
Workshop Instructors: Jeffrey Hamelman (802.436.1326) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Deborah Pasho (603.244.6343) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All workshops will be held on Saturdays 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. except the one on Sunday, July 16. Notices will be posted on the VBA website. Please bring a veil and gloves if you have them.
Here are directions from interstate 91 to 24 Eastman Road.
Take exit 9 and go north on Route 5 toward Hartland.
After 1 mile, just after a gas station on the right, go straight (leaving route 5). At the stop sign, go straight onto Quechee Road.
At 0.3 miles take a sharp right onto Eastman Road.
The bee yard is at the 2nd house on the right. It’s a tan house on the hill.
The driveway to the bee yard is a rough dirt driveway before getting to the house. Park alongside the road and walk up, or drive up the dirt driveway.
If coming from route 5, turn onto Quechee Road at the stop sign in the center of Hartland and follow the directions from there (above).
Workshops at the Intervale
Workshop Sees 40
About forty people attended the Burlington Intervale beekeeping workshop on preparing for spring presented by Bill Mraz, Scott Wilson & Bill Mares. Check the calendar for future workshops. (Photos by David Prior.)
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Other Meetings, Workshops & Events
Other Meetings, Workshops & Events
Organic Beekeeping For Beginners
When: May 18 (9-5) & May 19 (9-5) and May 25 (9-5) & May 26 (9-5) - DATE JUST ADDED
Description: This two-day intensive covers all the basics of what you will need to know to get started with bees. We cover the history of beekeeping, equipment, types of hives, bee biology, pest and disease control, harvesting, and overwintering. Class will include and live hive demonstration if weather permits.
Fee: $95 per person (includes course text: Natural Beekeeping 2nd Edition)
To Register Call Ross: 802-349-4279