2 new VBA courses from Dr. Sam Alger

#1 Hands-on Beekeeping

UVM course number:ALE 2990- Z2

June 15-July 10

Tuesday 4:30-7:30

Saturdays 9am - 3pm

This introductory beekeeping course offers a combination of classroom lectures and hands-on field experience. Topics include bee biology and natural history, choosing and purchasing equipment and bees, integrated pest management, seasonal colony management, and queen grafting.

Class will be held at the UVM horticulture farm and Meach Cove in Shelburne where students will interact with a research and education apiary consisting of over 30 hives. There will also be opportunities for field trips with beekeepers in our community.

Attendance is mandatory for every class as each class serves as the foundation for the next.

Will you get stung? Protective clothing and proper handling techniques greatly reduce the risk of bee stings. However, some bee stings are inevitable. If you have an allergy to bee venom, you should not take the in-person version of this course.

#2 Introduction to Beekeeping

UVM course number: ALE 2990-OL2

June 15-July 10

Online

In this online course, students will learn the fundamentals of being responsible stewards of honey bee colonies and the skills to support good decision-making in today’s changing world of beekeeping. This introductory course will cover topics including basic bee biology, the factors driving global pollinator decline, current topics in pollinator research, purchasing equipment, and bees, integrated pest management, and successful strategies for overwintering. Note that the course material will be presented asynchronously. If you are interested in a hands-on beekeeping course, please see "Hands-on Beekeeping".

For any questions about these 2 courses, contact Dr. Sam Alger at

samantha.alger@uvm.edu