Adult Homesteading: Spring Beekeeping Class

Beekeeping: Spring (Your First Season)

Everything You Need to Know Before Your Bees Arrive

If you have your first box of bees arriving this May or June and don’t have a plan in place, it’s important not to take the risk — especially if you haven’t taken our Introduction to Beekeeping class. Without guidance and a proper program, you may lose your bees, miss your honey harvest, and waste both time and money.

In this hands-on, locally tailored class, Daniel Kneblewski will teach you exactly how to prepare for, manage, and care for your bees from the day they arrive through the spring season. This program is based on the Ontario Beekeeping Manual, insights from master beekeepers and breeders, and Daniel’s 7 years of experience working with bees in our region.

In this 2-hour class, Daniel covers:

• Pre-spring preparation: ordering nucs/queens, beekeeper ID registration, and essential equipment

• How to properly locate your hive(s) on your homestead

• Inspection techniques with practical tips and tricks

• Planning for nectar flow and growing strong colonies for higher fall honey yields

• How to equalize colonies, when to add boxes and supers, and how to support hive expansion

• Managing pests and preventing diseases throughout the summer

• Troubleshooting non-typical or unexpected situations

By the end of this class, you’ll feel confident and prepared for your first season of beekeeping — ready to welcome your bees and give them the strong start they need.

Daniel will present a comprehensive slideshow and perform demonstration inspections using an empty hive. Bring a notebook — there is a lot to learn. All students receive a digital copy of the slides after the class.

Students who have not yet sourced bees will also have the opportunity to order bees directly from Daniel.

About the Instructor

Daniel Kneblewski is a passionate beekeeper with formal training and mentorship from master beekeepers and local breeders. Over the past seven years, he has doubled the size of his bee yards multiple times, caught swarms, bred bees, navigated major losses, managed new pests and diseases, and performed rescue calls. He currently manages 15–25 hives each year and is dedicated to helping new beekeepers gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

The class fee is $55.00+tax per person ($62.15). Kindly ensure the full payment is made within 24 hours to help streamline the process on our end. When submitting your payment, please include your name and the class you're paying for in the comments section.

If you’re unable to attend the class, please refer to our FAQs for refund details.

Payments can be completed in-store during business hours or via e-transfer to generationsmarketplacepayment@gmail.com.

Thank you for your prompt payment!

Testimonial

“The beekeeper courses offered at Generations Marketplace run by Daniel are a must for any new or aspiring beekeeper. Dan goes through all the necessary steps from acquiring your first hive all the way to seeing your bees through spring, summer and into fall and winter. He is a wealth of information and is passionate about everything bees! He provides detailed advice so that beekeepers can have the best success with their bees throughout each season. I highly recommend his courses to anyone curious about beekeeping! I definitely would not be at the stage I’m at without Dan’s expertise and mentoring.” -Melissa