Indiana Bee School

[Force10]

I should have posted this earlier, but you could make plans for next year.

I attended the Indiana Bee School yesterday. I don't currently have bees, but hope to get started next year. The school is presented by the Indiana Beekeeper's Association, and I felt they did very well. I attended the noob classes, the first two were quite informative, the last two had good information but the presenters would be better in one-on-one discussion. Several vendors were there with supplies, and they had a raffle and auctions as well. There was probably over 1000 people there, and I had fun.

Any other INGOers there? (I saw a gentleman with a small bag that had a Troy badge on it)

Any beekeepers here? I would like to learn from someone somewhat local. I have a friend who is getting bees this year, but he doesn't have any experience with them so far.

 

[ModernGunner]

I knew bees were pretty intelligent as insects go, didn't know they had their own school! That's amazing!!

Do they wear tiny little caps & gowns for graduation?

 

[Force10]

I knew bees were pretty intelligent as insects go, didn't know they had their own school! That's amazing!! Do they wear tiny little caps & gowns for graduation?

Funny... No caps or gowns, but a lot of dancing! (And the males have a life of luxury... until winter when they are kicked out in the cold)

 

[drop45]

Keep us posted on your bee keeping. I just got 2.5 acres and am interested in the possibility of keeping bees.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Very interesting.

So, Force, where IS the Indiana Bee School? You said you went but didn't say where it is? How much is tuition, how long, etc.

Edit: Did not know we had such a thing, but it makes sense: Indiana Beekeepers Association - Home

There is a magazine! Bee Culture! Hmmm.

Wait there are multiple magazines--Bee Culture, Bee World.

Check it out all kinds of things to learn: http://www.beeculture.com/directory/

 

[Force10]

I should have provided more information, I do apologize. This year's bee school was held at Plainfield HS, and from what I gather each year the interest in beekeeping has grown substantially.

Cost was quite reasonable ($30/individual, $50/family for "early" registration) and that included lunch. One of the more interesting things I learned is that there is a bi-annual international beekeepers convention called Apimondia. Who knew?! There is a push to have the US host it in 2019, which would be kinda interesting!

As mentioned earlier I am early in the process, reading a few books, etc. but look forward to having nature's nectar from my own yard.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Neat. One day of classes? Two days? I'm assuming it was over the weekend?

 

[ModernGunner]

Just bee careful not to get stung with high tuition costs...

 

[rotortech]

Beekeeping is big in Indiana. If you think you might want to try it - you should. My wife and I kept bees for years in our back yard. We live in one of the many neighborhoods where all 600 homes look pretty much the same. Even without a farm you can keep bees. Check the link above to the IBA to get some information. It is best to join a club or find someone near you who is a beekeeper who will mentor you. You will have questions and beekeepers are probably the nicest people you will ever deal with. The bee school that was just held this weekend is an annual event and is growing every year. That is a great place to start if you are planning ahead for next year.

You will get stung now and then / You will really enjoy the honey / Your neighbors will think you are nuts.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

I've messed around with bees for almost 25 years.

Here is the best website I've found for basic information:

The Practical Beekeeper, Beekeeping Naturally, Bush Bees, by Michael Bush


Here's one pretty black queen bee that I had a few years ago.

 

[dusty88]

Thanks. I'd love to add beekeeping to our activities, but it hasn't factored in yet. I sort of loosely follow some of the articles and podcasts from beekeepers. There is a guy east of Indy that collects natural swarms from the wild and moves them to his hives.

For now, I put in more bee-friendly plants.

I'll just add that our North American pollinators (including honeybees, which are actually imports from Europe) need all the help they can get. The increased cropping, pesticides, etc are taking their toll. This isn't the thread to start a debate about the magnitude of the impact of any one practice. The fact is we literally need pollinators for our survival. The more bee-friendly plants you have on your own property, the more you help their survival.