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City of Edmonton Approved Beekeeping Courses at the John Janzen Nature Centre
Each spring and fall, the John Janzen Nature Centre and local beekeeper, Dustin Bajer, team up to offer beekeeping classes approved by the City of Edmonton.
Edmonton Beekeeping Course Description
This beekeeping course takes an ecological perspective and includes honeybee biology and evolution, queen, worker, and drone life cycles, seasonal behaviour, hive management, pests and diseases, integrated pest management (IPM), and City of Edmonton beekeeping guidelines.
John Janzen Beekeeping Courses are on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Each weekend beekeeping course includes a copy of “The Practical Beekeeper: Volume 1“, a day and a half of beekeeping theory, a half-day of †practical experience, a *certificate of completion, and ongoing access to a growing community of local beekeepers.
Edmonton Beekeeping Course Dates
- May 18/19, 2019 (Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm) (Course Code 655333)
- June 22/23, 2019 (Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm) (Course Code 655334)
Register above or by calling 311. When calling 311, use course code 655333 for May 18/19 course and code 655334 for June 22/23 course.
Edmonton Beekeeping Course Outcomes
Participants will:
- be able to describe the biology, evolution, and seasonal behaviour of honeybees.
- be able to explain how to manage a hive in a way that aligns with the natural expression of a honeybee colony.
- understand the provincial (Alberta) and municipal (Edmonton) regulations necessary to keep bees responsibly.
- understand how to acquire bees and equipment.
- be able to practice an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to beekeeping and know where to find resources and stay up to date on the most current pests, diseases, and treatment strategies.
- have access to mentorship through a growing community of practice.
Edmonton Beekeeping Course Outline
Natural History of the Honeybee
- Honeybee Evolution & Development
- Honeybee Anatomy & Biology
- Honeybee Society & Behaviour
- Honeybee Casts
- Queen life cycle
- Queen, Queenlessness, Superseder, Swarming
- Worker life cycle
- Drone life cycle
- Development Stages
- Seasonal Honeybee Behaviour
Equipment
- Historical Beekeeping; Trees, Logs, and Skep Hives
- Top Bar/Warre Hives
- Top Bar/Horizontal HivesFlow Hives
- Langstroth Hives
- Beecentric Hives
- Protective Tools and Equipment
- Management Tools
- Extraction Tools
Getting Started
- Choosing A Location
- City of Edmonton Guidelines (Urban Beekeeping)
- Provincial Beekeeping Guidelines
- Considerations for Bees
- Sourcing Honeybees
- Honeybee Packages
- Nucleus (Nuc) Hives
- Splitting a Colony
- Catching Swarms
- Hive Management
Record Keeping
- Working with Natural Honeybee Behaviour
- Season Considerations
- Queen & Brood Health
- Managing Growth
- Swarm Prevention
- Disease Prevention
- Beekeeping Challenges
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Varroa Mite – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Tracheal Mites – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Hive beetle – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Wax moth – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Zombies (Parasitic Fly) – Prevention & Treatment Options
- American Foulbrood – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Chalkbrood – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Sacbrood – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Parafoulbrood – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Virus’ – Prevention & Treatment Options
- Feeding and Bee Nutrition
- Queen Genetics
- Chemical Exposure
The Harvest
- How much Honey to take?
- Comb Honey Method
- Mechanical Extraction Method
- Crush and Strain Method
- Rendering Wax
Winterization
- Disease Load
- Food Stores
- Insulation
- Ventilation
*The City of Edmonton’s Urban Beekeeping Guidelines states that “each approved beekeeper must complete a beekeeping course from an accepted organization” and that beekeepers “shall adhere to good management and husbandry practices.”
†Half day of practical experience will be held off-site (not at the JJNC). Participants are required to transport themselves or carpool with each other. In the event of poor weather, alternative practical days will be offered free of charge.