 | FAQ About Indiana Beekeeping School
Classes forming now for January 2010
Why should I consider keeping bees?
- Bee pollination accounts for $20 billion in increased yield in US agriculture – farming and gardening – every year. Problem is, feral honeybees (living in hollow trees in the woods) have just about totally died out.
What is killing the wild honeybees?
- Two kinds of parasitic mites, both successfully controlled in managed hives, even by gardeners, and a bacterial disease is wiping out feral honeybee colonies. Statistically, the number of "wild" honeybee hives is dwindling to near zero.
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- What about this Colony Collapse disorder I keep hearing about?
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CCD most recently appeared in the winter of 2006-2007, although
identical symptoms go back over 100 years. While some beekeepers have
considerable losses, they are hardly unprecedented even in the past 20
years. Survey results are not conclusive but it doesn't often affect
hobby beekeepers. All beekeepers suffer losses of colonies, sometimes
serious losses. Graduates of the Indiana Beekeeping School seem to
average 15-20% losses, while larger beekeepers often see 33-50%.
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What difference can I make?
- By adding a garden hive or two on your property, your honeybees will cover an area of several square miles pollinating plants and collecting nectar. Besides providing you a source of honey for your own use, these bees will have a very positive affect on gardens and farm crops within three miles in all directions.
I live in town or in a suburb. Can I keep bees?
- A call to your town, county, and county extension office can confirm if you can. In most places in Indiana, you can keep hives on your property, although you may be limited in their number, and they cannot be a nuisance. You need to check your neighborhood covenants, if any to see if they're forbidden. Even if they are, a nearby farm or rural landowner may be glad to provide you space and access to keep your bees.
Can I just set up a hive, and leave them be... letting nature take its course?
- No! In fact, this is why so few beekeepers are active in Indiana anymore. Bees are social, and they also visit other hives. You will most certainly have the parasitic mites, and your hive could become an infection point for other beehives across your county if you don't manage your beehives and treat for these problems.
So, will this class teach me what I need to know?
- Yes! This class will teach you what you need to do to manage your hives. If you think, during the summer months you can spare a few hours every two weeks, then you can manage your hives. You can make a difference in avoiding a looming crisis in Indiana Agriculture.
We'll warn you though, that the class is the most comprehensive class
ever offered in Indiana. Be prepared to keep awake and alert through 8
presentations over two days, and the learn quickly in the workshops
about construction of your beehive.
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- The class has
that much information in it?
- Yes! On average, 98%
of the class members tell us the class meets or exceeds their
expectations. There is so much to learn, and it's hard to pack into an
evening and the next day. If you want a casual class with lots of breaks
and free time, and where you don't need to concentrate, this may not be
the class for you. However, if you want to take advantage of the many
volunteers, to learn how to keep bees healthy in Indiana, then this
class is good for you.
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- So, is this class too
complex for children?
- No. In fact, kids as young as 8 have
taken the class and enjoy it. The 2% who find the class unsatisfactory
are adults. We've considered reducing the material or extending the
class to a third day. We've decided to do neither.
What else will I learn?
- You will learn that honeybees need not be feared, but can be successfully managed. You'll learn more about beestings and why beekeepers hate mosquito bites more than they fear beestings. You'll learn how to keep your hive healthy and gardens prospering. And you'll learn how to use an existing network for help with new problems.
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- Is this the same as the IBA Bee School held each spring?
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No. The spring
meeting of the IBA is not a beginners beekeeping class.
Is this the same as the ISBA Beekeeping School?
No. Simply speak to one of our hundreds of graduates. There's no
comparison to any other class offered anywhere.-
- Is the Indiana Beekeeping School a non-profit organization?
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Yes, after examination, the Internal Revenue Service declared the
Indiana Beekeeping School to be a 501(c)(3). That holds us to a higher
standard than any other Indiana beekeeper organization. Contact us for
more information
by clicking here
The sole purpose of the Indiana Beekeeping School is education.
How much equipment will I need to buy?
We caution our students that the "basic" beekeeping kit is not enough to
make it through a successful full season. We recommend the deluxe kit, with the
addition of more supers. In a good year, you can be running out of equipment
and having to harvest honey in a hurry.
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