Beginning Beekeeping Class
The Vermont Beekeepers Association (VBA) will be holding a 3-day class for new Vermont beekeepers who have just gotten honey bees or will have them soon. First and second year beekeepers are also welcome to attend.
The class will be held at the Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St, Rutland, VT April 4 & 11, 2026, 10:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. each day
There will be a third, outdoor, in-hive workshop at a date, time, and location in early May. Details on the 3rd day will be announced later.
The registration fee for the class is $60 which covers all three days of instruction plus the text “The Backyard Beekeeper, 5th Edition: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden” by Kim Flottum.
Participants who complete all three days will receive a free one-year membership in the Vermont Beekeepers Association which will give access to a number of additional online seasonal educational workshops free.
They will also be eligible to have a mentor through the VBA mentoring program.
Also included are:
§ Beekeeping In Northern Climates 3rd Edition, Jan, 2025, 144 pages from UNM, Dept of Entomology.
§ Hive and apiary hygiene.
§ Colony inspection forms.
§ Vermont Honey labelling requirements.
Class size will be limited to 25.
The last date to sign up is Thursday, April 2.
The class will cover these subject areas:
Introduction to Beekeeping – History, Value, Health Issues in Beekeeping
Basic Honey Bee Anatomy, Biology, and behaviors as they relate to seasonal management.
Basic Honey Bee communications and roles in the colony.
Vermont Apiary Law and Beekeeper Responsibilities - Health Certificates, Varroa mitigation plans, etc.
Beekeeping Equipment, Tools, PPE, and options for bees
Siting the apiary – Apiary siting factors, electric fencing.
Colony health – Protecting against pests, diseases, pesticides, and predators.
Seasonal hive and colony management – Inspections and frequency, reading the frames, splits, dearths, swarms, pollen and nectar sources, winter prep., colony health, and more.
Honey - What is it? How it is a “fragile” product, extracting honey - tools and equipment, Vermont honey labeling requirements.
Day 3 In hive – We’ll be suited up doing a live colony inspection learning how to light a smoker, use hive tools, safely remove frames, identify various types of brood, determine if a colony is queenright, etc.