Alachua County Annual Beekeeping Series: 2023-2024 cycle

Thank you to all our beekeeping series participants in 2023. Our next cycle will start this December so save the dates below and join us!

The UF/IFAS Extension Office in Alachua County has developed a series of short courses that will help you get started as a beekeeper. This series is the 2019 national winner of the Search for Excellence in Commercial Horticulture category by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents!

The 2023-2024 series is comprised of four classes that are strategically scheduled to help you along the way during the first year as a beekeeper. Below, find a brief description of our future classes:

Saturday, December 9th: Beginner Beekeeping 9 AM – 3 PM. Six-hour class (Fee: $30 – includes lunch and materials). The class covers principles of honeybee biology, equipment, how to use a smoker, rules to start an apiary, hive inspection. , how to recognize signs that your colony may be getting ready to swarm and how to make splits properly and timely.
Saturday, Feb 24th: Swarm Control 9 AM – 12 PM. Three-hour class (Fee: $20 – includes lunch and materials). The class covers how to recognize signs that your colony may be getting ready to swarm and how to make splits properly and timely.
Saturday, April 27th: Pest and Disease Management 9 AM – 12 PM. Three-hour class (Fee: $20 – includes refreshments and materials). The class will go over multiple pests and diseases, reasons for queen loss, and hive nutrition.
Saturday, May 18th: Honey Extraction and Hive Management 9 AM – 12 PM – Three-hour class (Fee: $20 – includes refreshments and materials). As the colony stores resources, you may want to collect the sweet reward of keeping bees. This class will go over how to extract honey, how to bottle and label it, and more.

Registration through Eventbrite will be available a month prior to each class. These classes will give you the principles and hands-on experience that will help prepare you to take full advantage of Bee College.

New beekeeper learning to select frames for Honey Extraction.

Classes are announced around the 15^th of the month before the class thru local TV and newspaper, our website, IFAS Calendar as well as Facebook so you CANNOT miss it! Classes are limited to 30 participants and typically fill up quickly after the announcement. Sign up as soon as you see the class advertisement and take advantage of the early-bird registration. A $10 late registration fee will apply after the cut-off date for each class. Registration closes at noon the day before class. If you would like to receive email notifications about these beekeeping classes, you may join our beekeeping listserv by emailing alachua@ifas.ufl.edu (subject:add me to beekeeping litserv). You may also follow us on Facebook @FarmingAlachua.

All classes take place on Saturdays at the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab located at 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611 (the building with yellow hexagonal windows 🐝).

These classes are brought to you as a collaboration between UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, and volunteer local beekeepers.

Other beekeeping educational activities you may be interested in include:

More than 500 people have participated in this series. Come and join us!