YEAR ROUND VARROA MITE, July 19th & August 2nd, (6:30-8pm): VIA ZOOM
$50.00
In stock: 25 available
Product Details
Year Round Varroa Mite Management Class: Keeping Your Hive Alive!
Part 1: Sunday, July 19th, 6:30-8pm
Part 2: Sunday, August 2nd, 6:30-8pm
Learn how to keep your hive alive for multiple years by keeping your varroa mite levels low. This is a required class for every beekeeper.
Learn what to do each season to keep mite levels low and your bees thriving. It is each beekeeper's responsibility to keep their mites low, as it means lower mite & virus levels for all the surrounding hives (mites/viruses transfer easily between hives). We focus on methods that have worked in the East Bay for my hives and the hives of students in my mentorship. We will cover the sugar roll test, organic treatment methods like drone comb frames, formic acid treatment, and oxalic acid glycerin. Taking care of mites will allow your bees to overwinter smoothly and live multiple years.
With the class being split into two parts, you will have the chance to practice the sugar roll test in between classes and get help with any problems or questions in Part 2.
Video of the sugar roll test will be shown in class, plus you will get recipes and instructions for organic treatment methods.
IN-PERSON HIVE INSPECTION: For people who take this class have the option of coming to an in-person hive inspection, scheduled for Friday, July 24th, 1:30pm-3:30pm. This will be an additional $25 & located in Berkeley/Oakland. You'll get to see a demo of the sugar roll test, plus identify what's in the hive, see how the tools are used, and observe bee behavior (calm vs. defensive).
RECORDINGS: You will get both video and audio recordings after the class, so you can rewatch in months to come.
Instructor: Jennifer Radtke has been keeping bees in her backyard for 20+ years, and has developed the beekeeping education program at the Urban Farm Oasis. After her hives died in 2010/2011 from varroa mites, she has been tracking and managing mite levels and successfully overwintering hives multiple years.