JANUARY 24, 2026 10:00AM - 3:00PM (pizza lunch provided) Thinking of becoming a beekeeper in 2026? This is the place to start! We’ll cover all of the basics you need to know before deciding to get your first hive, plus everything you’ll want to know before you bring your bees home. This class is designed to help beginners filter through all of the beekeeping information that is available out there. We remember being new to beekeeping and feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of advice that we had access to. Now that we've been at it for a while, we've found what seems to work well here and we can offer locally relevant advice. We'll begin by talking about the practical questions to consider before starting up your apiary, including costs, time commitment, necessary equipment, and space requirements. We'll spend lots of time getting to know the bees themselves, as we believe it's really important to understand who we're trying to care for. From there, we'll talk about the things you can expect to see and do throughout your first year as a beekeeper, and finish the class in the spring with an in-person visit to the hives in our bee yard. Our hope is that you'll finish the program and be really excited to start your new apiary. And also that you'll know what the word apiary means. What sets our classes apart? We are WNY's largest retailer of beekeeping supplies, which means you have access to everything you need right in one place. We have several beekeepers on staff, all of whom have a slightly different approach to beekeeping so you will learn a variety of methods to use in your own apiary. We include a hands-on, in-person Hive Inspection component to this class. Seeing things first hand is a great way to put all of the information together. In-person Apiary visits will be scheduled in spring of 2026. As this is weather dependent, dates are TBD. You'll get a code to use so you can sign up for a class that is convenient for you. PLEASE be sure to enter your email address correctly when registering, as that is how we'll get in touch with you to let you know about any updates. Questions? Please email us!
