Beginning Beekeeping Class

Registration for 2024 classes: https://forms.gle/YewPHAMsZB7thDpX7

Classes are held at the Woodbury County Extension office at 4728 Southern Hills Dr, Sioux City, IA 51106

Beginning Beekeeper Class Schedule:

      Thursday Feb 1, 2024 06:30 PM. First class is free!
      Thursday Feb 8, 2024 06:30 PM
       Thursday Feb 15, 2024 06:30 PM
       Thursday Feb 22, 2024 06:30 PM
       Thursday Feb 29, 2024 06:30 PM


Snow date or extra class if needed

WEDNESDAY Mar 6, 2024 06:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83426515163?pwd=Vng1U1VBc1ZyeXNtU2JHeUMwcXJ4UT09

Meeting ID: 834 2651 5163

Passcode: 227758


Free Beekeeping Class: “Is beekeeping right for you?”

Join us February 1st, 2024, at 6:30 pm at the Woodbury County Extension office, 4728 Southern Hills Dr, Sioux City, IA 51106, for a free 2-hour introductory beekeeping class, sponsored by the Siouxland Beekeepers Club, taught by John Anderson of Lone Oak Honey Company.  Also offered on Zoom:

The free class will answer basic questions such as: How much time and money will be involved in getting started with beekeeping? What equipment will you need? Protective clothing? Where should you locate your beehives? Where can you buy bees? Plus you’ll meet experienced beekeepers who will be happy to help you get started on your journey into this fascinating hobby.

If you decide to continue, the cost of the additional classes is $75. The classes will be on  February 8, February 15,  February 22 and February 29. All classes start at 6:30 pm at the Extension office.


Why take a beginning beekeeping class?

Most people have had enough exposure to gardening or fishing that they could start those hobbies without having to do much research or take a class.  Beekeeping is not something most people have any exposure to and that makes it difficult to get off to a good start without some research or training.  If you take up fishing and you don’t know what you are doing probably the worst thing that can happen is you won’t catch any fish.  If you take up beekeeping and you don’t know what you are doing your bees may suffer or even die.  A beginning beekeeper class can give you the tools you need to prevent that from happening.

If you have questions you can use the email address below to get answers.

Recordings from 2023 classes:

Beginning Beekeeping Class: Session 1 Jan. 17, 2023.
Session 2 of Beginning Beekeeping Class Feb 14, 2023

Session 3 Feb 21, 2023


Links to lesson documents from previous classes and suggested podcasts and reading can be found below



Before you decide to keep bees you should find out if your city ordinances will allow you to keep bees where you live. Check out the links for Iowa at the Iowa Honey Producers Association website here: https://www.iowahoneyproducers.org/iowa-bee-laws


For any beginners, I would recommend the book “Beekeeping Basics” produced by Penn State. You can get a free PDF version of the book at: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/CAES/DOCUMENTS/Bee/Penn_State_Beekeeping_Basics_agrs93.pdf?la=en

A print version is available for $10. The photos are in black and white so I would stay with the free PDF. But $10 is still pretty cheap. You can buy it here: https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-basics#:~:text=Beekeeping%20Basics%20provides%20information%20on,a%20glossary%20and%20an%20appendix.


Check out this 4 part series on getting started in beekeeping from Beekeeping Today podcast. https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/how-to-get-started-with-bees-part-1-s2-e16

Part 2: https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/how-to-get-started-with-bees-part-2-s2-e17

Part 3: https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/how-to-get-started-with-bees-part-3-s2-e18

Part 4: https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/how-to-get-started-with-bees-part-4-s2-e19


Beginning Beekeeping class Sessions

If you have time, read this before deciding on the type of hives to use: Things to consider before buying beehives

Session 1A Google Slides https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PYM0lUkExeecYrVwBxzZEhspDST6OtLuIS81Y7nwPLA/edit?usp=sharing

Session 1B Google Slides

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTCa2_yzqwDCGegtwUc0-p7lsvgXyAoYURIHUPdhXMzr7rae1zjuI4ELmYnbhp66JkrODcbS-BLQ1Oh/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=60000

Session 2 Google Slides

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRj-o41SBL-u56QJKNgbwbG0BxLU_rtPXb28TXxPIwR6lcNNWrZElh69u4RNpYq-lPNTo4qPlgm_l3o/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=60000

Session 3 Google Slides:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aGN95_oybv0q796M9VMwB84USITGaVVJbArgL_NAHlQ/edit?usp=sharing

Recording of Feb 2, 2022 session: Passcode is  r%*s%w7U

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/cv-Hhuxg5xbP1zIbYko_KfhuUevSwC49QQrCuQdopjona6HWmmHVemKY_H1i7IMx.nJLPhSDOZH0LFlOy

Session 4 Google Slides

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15AQYYftZBjc2Xt63gAGWJnKHbd09gtouB0dA0t8373o/edit?usp=sharing

Session 4 Docs

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQPQeOGdYHephQ8-FD7EhZYIf8vG6A_WNjhkn-cq9Q5iHOq0o4fmdxbaRHtYULZPUjxbEruYA53LwJs/pub

Recording of Feb 9th, 2022 session. Audio missing from first 10 or 12 minutes.

Recording of February 16th, 2022 session. No audio for first 6 minutes.

Session 5

Session 5 Google Slides:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Xwn1uxNAYHNd-7F1DKC6jlXKCsERc34w7Jmp5arP9dg/edit?usp=sharing

Google Slides of normal and abnormal brood frames

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YT8dV2qyNxmQgo_Ra_n7gYP9s6-XLNsWMCMmdOf3I1w/edit?usp=sharing

Beekeeping in One Chart

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jXYNZq2h6jfzQqtbKJGO-rUet_nS3jkwN1sgqrDYY28/edit?usp=sharing

Google doc Session 4 from “Locations for Your Beehives” to the end of document

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQPQeOGdYHephQ8-FD7EhZYIf8vG6A_WNjhkn-cq9Q5iHOq0o4fmdxbaRHtYULZPUjxbEruYA53LwJs/pub

I have a few videos on YouTube.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg-nMGuCwMccWzlqpPBeMyA/