Beekeeping: Fall & Winter Management

Beekeeping: Fall Prep & Winter Survival

Setting Your Colony Up for a Strong, Successful Overwinter

Getting bees through a Canadian winter is one of the toughest challenges beekeepers face. If this is your first year with bees — or if you’ve struggled with winter losses in the past — this class is highly recommended. The material applies to all skill levels, from brand-new beekeepers to those looking to improve their overwintering success.

In this detailed and locally tailored course, Daniel Kneblewski will guide you through everything you need to do in late summer and fall to prepare your bees for winter. This program draws on the Ontario Beekeeping Manual, the knowledge of master beekeepers and breeders, and Daniel’s extensive hands-on experience working with bees in our region over the past seven years.

In this 2-hour class, Daniel covers:

• Late-summer nectar flow monitoring

• Fall hive assessment: dealing with queenless colonies, nucs, single hives, and double hives

• Checking, treating, and confirming treatment success for mites and pests

• Equalizing strategies to strengthen colonies before winter

• Feeding and medicating bees going into cold weather

• Winter wrapping techniques and proper insulation

• Emergency winter food checks and when to intervene

• Supply ordering and preparing for the following beekeeping year

By the end of this class, you'll understand that winter survival takes more than hope — it requires proactive management. Mites, pests, and poor preparation are among the top reasons colonies don’t make it through winter. Daniel’s program will significantly increase your bees’ chances of survival and set you up for a productive spring.

Daniel will present a comprehensive slideshow and demonstrate fall inspection techniques using an empty hive. Come prepared to take notes. Students will receive checklists, handouts, and a digital copy of the slides after the class.

Students will also have the opportunity to order bees from Daniel for the following year.

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 ($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