Organic Beekeeping Principles and Practices

Instructor: Ross Conrad, author Natural Beekeeping

This workshop covers topics suitable for commercial and hobby beekeepers, with a primary focus on intermediate and advanced methods. For beginners, a special Saturday morning session that covers hive construction and layout, the basics of bee biology, and handling bees is strongly recommended. The rest of the workshop, Saturday afternoon/evening and all day Sunday, presents a balanced view of natural and organic beekeeping topics and practices not ordinarily covered in lectures and articles, including: presence and mindfulness in the beeyard; swarming as an expression of the bees vitality; working with swarms and making nucleus colonies; non-toxic mite and foul brood control; Apitherapy, and an appreciation for the role that pollinators play within the Earth's ecosystem. Weather permitting, the day will be punctuated with visits to hives, where techniques for handling bees are demonstrated with opportunities for hands-on experience by workshop participants. Bring a veil, if you have one.