Beekeeping Educational Series

Blue Jay Orchard is excited to welcome Trish the Beekeeper for a Educational Series on Beekeeping. Trish started in 2015 with a swarm of bees, and manages around 10 hives. Trish cared for the hives at Blue Jay Orchard from 2020 until mid-2023 when she passed the torch to us. Teaching beekeeping classes is a great way for her to share the lessons she's received from the school of hard knocks, to hopefully save future beekeepers from some of her missteps. Check out her beekeeping site with resources at Chickabuzz.com.

All classes will be held at Blue Jay Orchard on Monday evenings from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Each class can stand on it's own or be taken as a series. Each registrant will receive a sample of Blue Jay Orchard honey to take home! (One honey sample per registrant, not per class)  Registration is $20 per class, with a 10% discount when registering for any 2 classes and a 15% discount when registering for all three sessions. 


First Year Beekeeping Class Part 1 - What to Buy and What's it For.

Offered January 22, 2024

We will discuss the hive equipment and how the bees will use it, what you'll need to safely inspect the bees, and whether or not you can get honey your first year. We will also discuss buying the bees. Join Trish the Beekeeper to get savvy about your shopping list for successful beekeeping.

There many are options for what kind of hive setup to choose - but some things must be purchased to follow the bees' rules about their home. They can expand enough in population to need 5 boxes their first year! Buying some kind of protection from bee stings is required, but again there are choices you can make to increase your comfort compared to your comfort level. When you buy bees, their are pros and cons to a package of bees vs a nuc, but knowing more is the secret to success with getting bees.

First Year Beekeeping Class Part 2 - What to expect your first day, first month and first season.

Offered January 29, 2024

When should you inspect the bees for the first time after you install them? HOW do you inspect a hive full of stinging insects safely, for your sake as well as theirs? Join Trish the Beekeeper to find out more.

The key to successful beekeeping is understanding what information is available from a hive inspection. What does a "healthy hive" look like? Unlike most of the creatures we know well, it depends on the season, on when the queen started laying, and how much food the bees are getting. While bees are wild animals who can live without people, they have a much better chance of success when someone is checking on them and then acting on that information effectively. We will talk about inspecting the first time, inspection throughout the first month, and what to expect from the hive for the first season. Don't Bee afraid - Bee prepared!

You do not need to have attended Part 1 to attend Part 2, but Part 1 is where we talk about installing bees...


Beeyond First Year Beekeeping - Swarms, Splits and Honey - Oh my!

Offered February 5, 2024

Working with a hive that has overwintered, or bees that are installed into an existing setup, is a very different experience compared to their first year on new equipment. The girls are motivated to blast off - and you have to keep up. Join Trish the Beekeeper to find out the secret to keeping the bees in the box and making honey.

The bees that are coming out of winter are motivated to grow, and Trish puts her supers on early to keep up with their explosive growth. But what if you don't have honey supers with comb? What should you do to prevent swarming? How do you get comb drawn out by the bees? How can you motivate the hive to make lots of honey? And - what IS a walkaway split? We will discuss steps for success in Spring and Summer and lessons from the school of hard knocks - the bees have some rules we can learn to follow to get the best from the bees.

This class is aimed at those who have already worked with bees, but will still be interesting as a coming attraction for those who are just starting their beekeeping journey.

Location Information

  • Blue Jay Orchard
  • 17909 Rapids Rd, Hiram, OH, 44234 US
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TicketsPriceQuantity

January 22, 2024 from 6:30-8:30pm

First Year Beekeeping Class Part 1 - What to Buy and What's it For.

We will discuss the hive equipment and how the bees will use it, what you'll need to safely inspect the bees, and whether or not you can get honey your first year. We will also discuss buying the bees. Join Trish the Beekeeper to get savvy about your shopping list for successful beekeeping.

There many are options for what kind of hive setup to choose - but some things must be purchased to follow the bees' rules about their home. They can expand enough in population to need 5 boxes their first year! Buying some kind of protection from bee stings is required, but again there are choices you can make to increase your comfort compared to your comfort level. When you buy bees, their are pros and cons to a package of bees vs a nuc, but knowing more is the secret to success with getting bees.

$20.00

January 29, 2024 from 6:30-8:30pm

First Year Beekeeping Class Part 2 - What to expect your first day, first month and first season.

When should you inspect the bees for the first time after you install them? HOW do you inspect a hive full of stinging insects safely, for your sake as well as theirs? Join Trish the Beekeeper to find out more.

The key to successful beekeeping is understanding what information is available from a hive inspection. What does a "healthy hive" look like? Unlike most of the creatures we know well, it depends on the season, on when the queen started laying, and how much food the bees are getting. While bees are wild animals who can live without people, they have a much better chance of success when someone is checking on them and then acting on that information effectively. We will talk about inspecting the first time, inspection throughout the first month, and what to expect from the hive for the first season. Don't Bee afraid - Bee prepared!

You do not need to have attended Part 1 to attend Part 2, but Part 1 is where we talk about installing bees...

$20.00

February 5, 2024 from 6:30-8:30pm

Beeyond First Year Beekeeping - Swarms, Splits and Honey - Oh my!

Working with a hive that has overwintered, or bees that are installed into an existing setup, is a very different experience compared to their first year on new equipment. The girls are motivated to blast off - and you have to keep up. Join Trish the Beekeeper to find out the secret to keeping the bees in the box and making honey.

The bees that are coming out of winter are motivated to grow, and Trish puts her supers on early to keep up with their explosive growth. But what if you don't have honey supers with comb? What should you do to prevent swarming? How do you get comb drawn out by the bees? How can you motivate the hive to make lots of honey? And - what IS a walkaway split? We will discuss steps for success in Spring and Summer and lessons from the school of hard knocks - the bees have some rules we can learn to follow to get the best from the bees.

This class is aimed at those who have already worked with bees, but will still be interesting as a coming attraction for those who are just starting their beekeeping journey.

$20.00
Total: $0.00

Raw Honey

  • Honey 1 pound

    Honey 1 pound

    Blue Jay Orchard produced Raw Honey

    $12.00 ea.
  • Honey 2 pounds

    Honey 2 pounds

    Blue Jay Orchard produced Raw Honey

    $22.00 ea.
$0.00
$0.00
WARNING: Under Ohio law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if that injury or death results from the inherent risks of that agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, but are not limited to, the risk of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals as well as the potential for you as a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.

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