During this class, participants will learn the basics of backyard beekeeping . Topics covered include:

• Bee biology
• Equipment, types of hives, and hive care
• Ordering packages, Nucs, handling bees and installation
• Yearly schedule, queen management and swarm control, managing the hive
• Problems, diseases, predators, parasites, and treatments
• Benefits of backyard beekeeping, pollination, and products
• Q&A session with instructor Oscar Villa

Oscar will also lead an in-person field day session covering how to inspect your hives at the beginning of the season. The field day is weather dependent, but is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 24 and will take place at a location in the Chicago area. If you'd like to participate in the field day, be sure to purchase a "Spring Field Day Included" ticket at check-out.

About the Instructor

Oscar Villa started Beekeeping in 2013 after AUA's first Urban Livestock Expo, and he ordered his bees without knowing anything about bees. He installed his first two hives in a family member's backyard, and joined the Windy City Beekeepers club. In 2016, he almost quit but decided to try one more year and learn as much as he could. In 2019, Oscar started Bee-utiful Honey and Candles. He currently manages about 40 hives across nine locations in the Chicago region.

Please note that the February 27 session of this workshop is a virtual class. Attendees will receive a link to access the live class in advance of the class start time.

No refunds will be given for this workshop. If you purchase a ticket and are not able to tune in when the workshop is live, we will share a recording along with any slides and resources shared during the class.

Please contact info@plantchicago.org with any questions about this workshop.