Two day Bee Keeping Course (Sat 4th April & Sat 25th April) Cost €180 for two days.
This course is intended for complete beginners and those new to bee keeping who are looking for a little extra help. No previous bee keeping experience necessary. At the end of this course participants will have enough knowledge to take up beekeeping. During the course there will be visits to active working hives. Featherfield Farm are pleased to welcome Liam McGarry to the first of two courses he has planned with us for 2020. Liam has been working with Featherfield Farm for over five years and has established our bee colonies and demonstration hive areas. Liam has kept bees since 1968. He is currently Chairman of The County Dublin Beekeeper's Association and has 20 colonies of bees himself. Liam has also pioneered the re-introduction of bees in Dublin City and currently has 10 of his hives on the roofs of offices in Dublin City and manages four other collections at other offices in Dublin. Liam is one of the few beekeepers actively producing nuc bee colonies of native Irish black bees, and never imports from unknown overseas colonies.
Every aspect of bee keeping is positive. From the peace and tranquility of being involved with bees to the benefits to the environment, to the financial rewards, bee keeping makes perfect sense. In the first year, keeping bees can repay an investment in a hive at least two fold in honey sales. There is an enzyme in bee stings that is known to stimulate the brain. It is widely commented upon that bee keepers suffered notably less from Alzheimer's, Dementia or Parkinson's. This finding has sparked research worldwide. The 2019 World Congress of Bee Keepers, held in Apimondia, Montreal, Canada disturbingly announced (after lab testing) that 46% of all honey producers present at the show had adulterated their honey with additives like corn syrup, antibiotics, sugar syrup. In most cases the honey they sold did not come from the country of origin stated. At Featherfield Farm, every customer (especially children) marvel at the quality, taste and smell of our honey. The hives are 20 metres from the shop, so the honey frames didn’t travel far to be extracted and bottled.
This hands-on two-day course, led by Liam McGarry, is ideal for total beginners and new to bee-keeping students. At the end of this course, participants will have the knowledge, skill and confidence to take up or expand their beekeeping. The course is run over two separate Saturdays, the 4th and 25th April. Two separate days were selected for the students benefit as it allows for a visible change in the hives in the three week gap. Participants will be able to observe how the hive develops at this early stage in the year. Over the course of the two days there will be regular visits to six active hives. It is essential to gain experience with a live colony of bees before keeping your own. This hands on approach has seen a higher uptake of bee keeping than a purely theoretical course. Liam can offer tangible advice as to where you should locate your hives. Bring photos of proposed sites, noting direction, wind strength and any obstacles such as buildings, trees, walkways, parking. This two day course will be held in our new purpose built classroom. This facility has been designed for the teacher and students to work closely together so all tasks are hands on with everyone involved. There will be audio visual presentations from Liam, in a comfortable, warm bright classroom. This is a small group set-up, which we have found the most successful. This system involves everyone present interacting with Liam and their fellow students.
2 DAY COURSE SCHEDULE General introduction, objectives of course, pollination Honey bees, Wasps, Bumble bees , Importance, Bee dance Different Castes - Q. W. D. (Queen, Worker, Drone) introduction Basic Introduction to equipment and hives – Supers, Frames, Feeders Anatomy & Phermones THE COLONY: 3 Castes Q.W.D. (Queen, Worker, Drone) – Egg, Grub, Bee. Division of labour within the hive. – Nectar, Pollen, Propolis, Water Nurse Bees, Comb builders, Guard Bees etc. Individual life cycles. Products of the hive. Honey, Wax, Pollen, Propolis THE HIVE: History & different hives / honey hunting etc. Bees nest Brood Box Hive components – Supers, Frames, QE, Floor, Roof, Nucs. Hive Types – CDB, National, Commercial, Others. Harvesting – Clearing, Cappings, Filtering, Extractors, Bottling & labelling, Feeding when & how? Spring & Winter. Feeder Types, Syrup, Fondant SWARMS: Inspections - Importance and impact. Seven day inspections, Queen rearing, clipping & marking. Reasons, Causes, Primary swarms, Casts, Prevention. Swarm Control, Artificial Swarm, use of Nucs. Swarm Collection and moving bees. Queenlessness & testing for same. HYGIENE & Apiary Management: Brood diseases – AFB (American foulbrood), EFB (European foulbrood) Adult diseases – Nosema, Acarine Varroa Mice, Rats etc. Bee Hygiene, Apiary Hygiene, Grass cutting etc, Renewing comb Good Apiary Practice. COLONY MANAGEMENT: The Beekeeping Year. Recap & Review of course. During the two days there will be visits to active working hives.
To ensure people get the very best value from the Featherfield Farm experience with Liam, please bring with you the following:- * A bee suit (we can provide you with a bee suit for the day but please bring your own if you have one). * Rubber gloves, and wellingtons or solid boots (do not bring cloth inlaid boots the bees can sting through these). * A map/drawing of you garden with rough dimensions of the area you wish to keep your bees. Please note north, south, east, west perspectives and highlight any major trees or features that should be considered in the gardens layout. (iPhone pictures can help) If you are considering putting bees on a third parties land bring outlines showing any areas where cattle, people or farm machinery could be an issue. * If you have bees already please bring an outline of your current hives and locations, and note any issues you’re experiencing. * A hard backed note book. * Warm jacket. During your time at Featherfield Farm you also have access to the farm shop. We sell Organic Dexter beef, Organic lamb, free range Organic eggs, Organic free range chicken, and our own honey. We have gardening books, and a full selection of vegetable seeds, along with select plants and vegetables available when you visit.
The two day Liam McGarry beginners course: costs €180 Sat 4th April & Sat 25th April 2020. We start at 9:30am with tea/coffee and a friendly meet-up with everyone and introduction to Liam. Classes start at 10am sharp. We break at 11:30am for tea/coffee. At 1:30pm we have a light lunch of soups & home made breads. Liam will Finish at 4:30pm with tea/coffee and any additional questions from that days activities. Featherfield Farm is a certified Organic farm in Lullymore, Co. Kildare. You can witness first hand one of Ireland's national Farming For Nature Ambassador Farms for 2019. Facilities include parking, heated classroom and farm shop. We can provide you with a bee suit for the day but please bring your own if you have one.
To book over the phone or for more information: call Mark 086-859 4438, mark@featherfieldfarm.ie Julian 087 624 0811, julian@featherfieldfarm.ie