Bee Keeping at 21 Acres

 The 21 acres apiary was established to fulfill two important goals.  The first is to provide local groups and residents with the opportunity to witness honey bees in action at their hives and to learn about the roles they play in the local environment.  2008 was our first year of providing this resource and several groups had the opportunity to “meet the bees” and their shepherd. The 2010 Natural Beekeeping classes expands this goal to include hands on training for individuals who are interested in learning how to keep bees.  The second goal is to support sustainable, organic bee keeping through the development of a naturally resistant, honey bee population.  This involves culturing the survivors of the current epidemic in the total absence of chemical treatments in an attempt to select for bees with increased levels of resistance.  This strategy will result in significant losses in the early years of the program but it is our hope that over time the honey bee population of 21 acres and the surrounding area will become hardier and healthier because of it. 

2010 upcoming Classes

Bees in the Field: Setting up the Hive

Saturday, April, 17

1-3pm; $25

Location: 21 Acres

 
Bees in the Field: Hive Inspection
Saturday, May 1
1-2pm; $15

Location: 21 Acres
 
Bees in the Field: Hive Preparation for Honey Production
Saturday, May 15
1-2pm; $15

Location: 21 Acres
 
Bees in the Field: Nucleus Colony Maintenance
Saturday, June 19
1-2pm; $15

Location: 21 Acres
 
Bees in the Field: Harvesting Honey
Saturday, September 11
1-3pm; $25

Location: Sammamish Valley Grange
 

Advanced classes

Bees in the Field: Colony Expansion Part I
Saturday, May 8
1-2pm; $15

Location: 21 Acres
 
Bees in the Field: Colony Expansion Part II
Saturday, May 15
3-4pm; $15

Location: 21 Acres

Enroll

To enroll for a class or series, download the Enrollment Application and return to education@21acres.org. If enrolling within 7 days of class, please email education@21acres.org or call 206-442-2061 to enroll in person. 

Classes previously held in the Beekeeping Series

• Introduction to Natural Beekeeping