Social Immunity and Propolis
Outcomes Learners will develop a comprehensive understanding of the principles underlying social and individual immunity in honey bees. Key Takeaways Honey bees, like many social insects, have collective behavioural defences called “social immunity” to help defend and protect the colony against pathogens and parasites. Propolis is known to have many antimicrobial proprieties against bacteria, fungi, […]
Branding Basics
Outcomes Learners will be able to recognize the key elements of brand identity and apply them effectively to a beekeeping business context. Key Takeaways Identify who your audience is, and market to them. Establish a strong visual and emotional brand identity. Consider how you will establish your voice to build trust with customers […]
Combining Mating Nucs
Outcomes Learners will be able to effectively prepare and combine mating nucs to ensure thriving colonies during the winter season. Key Takeaways Optimal Winter Preparation: Focus on achieving the right winter weights and cluster size by reviewing weight requirements and assessing brood frame numbers for strong winter clusters, regardless of your hive setup. […]
Sampling for Varroa
Outcomes Learners will gain an understanding of the significance of regular sampling for Varroa mites in beekeeping. They will be able to recognize and differentiate between effective treatment methods. Key Takeaways Early Detection and Prevention: Regular sampling for Varroa mites is crucial for detecting infestations early, preventing colony failure, and mitigating the spread […]
Winter Success in Cold Climates
Outcomes Learners will have a comprehensive understanding of the key strategies and considerations necessary to ensure the survival and well-being of bee colonies during the cold winter months. Key Takeaways Dr. Pernal’s advice offers a roadmap to navigate winter beekeeping challenges effectively. The main takeaways are: Establishing Strong Winter Bee Populations: Winter bees […]
Importance of Business Planning for Beekeeping
Outcomes Learners will have acquired an understanding of the foundational principles of business planning and gained the ability to recognize the relevance of business planning in the realm of beekeeping business. Key Takeaways There are many reasons why it is important to develop a business plan. Financing: If you have a business that […]
Using a Fumeboard
Outcomes Learners will understand how to extract honey from bee hives using the fume board. Key Takeaways Efficient and Gentle Honey Extraction: The fume board strategy offers a proven approach to honey extraction that emphasizes both efficiency and gentleness. By allowing bees to leave their hives at their own pace through the use of […]
Honey Uncapping Tools
Outcomes Learners will have a comprehensive understanding of the distinct functions and roles of various tools employed in the honey harvesting process. Key Takeaways Diverse Tools for Different Stages: Honey harvesting involves a range of specialized tools tailored to distinct stages of the process. From uncapping knives and forks to extractors and bottling […]
Controlling Varroa with IPM
Outcomes Students will have gain an awareness of various strategies for managing varroa mites and the differing levels of efficacy associated with these strategies. Key Takeaways There are 5 strategies for applying IPM: Prevention, Cultural, Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical. Prevention is all about decreasing the risk of contact with diseases which are rated […]
Chalkbrood
Outcomes Learners will be able to recognize the signs of chalkbrood in honeybee colonies, understand effective prevention strategies, and comprehend appropriate treatments to mitigate its impact. Key Takeaways Chalkbrood is a fungal disease affecting honeybee larvae, caused by Ascosphaera apis, and can be transmitted through ingestion of spores. Infected larvae undergo mummification, resulting in chalky-white […]
