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Backyard Beekeeping Launchpad

4 Modules 11 Chapters 31 Lessons Intermediate

Course Overview

Backyard Beekeeping Launchpad helps new and aspiring backyard beekeepers learn everything needed to successfully complete a full season of beekeeping.

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Course Structure

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Support Structures 4 Lessons

The Beekeeping Timeline

The Beekeeping Timeline will help you learn all of the important dates you need to know about to complete your first full season of beekeeping. By following the recommended completion dates, you'll be able to complete your important tasks in good time so you don't miss out and have to wait till the next season.

Find A Beekeeping Mentor

In this lesson, you'll learn about finding a mentor. One of the best things you can do as a new backyard beekeeper is find a great mentor that works well with your style of learning. A good mentor will help you navigate the challenges of backyard beekeeping and will help you avoid the common rookie mistakes most new beekeepers make.

Find Reliable Sources Of Beekeeping Information

Finding reliable sources of on-going backyard beekeeping information is one of the best things you can do outside of finding a good mentor. In this lesson, you'll learn how to discover if an information source is reliable and where to find some of these great sources of beekeeping information.

Join Beekeeping Associations & Groups

Another great source of reliable beekeeping information is reputable beekeeping associations, groups, and clubs. In this lesson, we discuss what benefits you can get from these groups and how to determine if groups are worth joining or not.

Pre-Orders 4 Lessons

Understanding Quality

Understanding the quality of your purchases is critical to getting the best value out of your beekeeping experience. In this lesson, you'll learn where you should aim on the quality spectrum to achieve the greatest benefit.

The Importance Quality Woodenware & The Quality Woodenware Traps

Woodenware represents one of the largest costs in backyard beekeeping. In this lesson, you'll learn how to get the best value for your money so you keep your long-term costs as low as possible.

Pre-Order Your Bees

One of the most exciting parts of being a backyard beekeeper is pre-ordering your bees! In this lesson, you'll discover the different species of bees, how they are packaged, & the typical costs associated with each type.

Pre-Order Equipment & Supplies

To wrap up your pre-orders, you'll need to get your equipment & supplies. In this lesson, you'll learn what you absolutely need to have and what you should expect to pay for good supplies that will last.

Setting Up In Advance 3 Lessons

Find The Living Space For Your Beehive

Your bees needs a safe place to live throughout the season. In this lesson, you'll learn what criteria you should look for in a prime living space for your beehives.

Prepare The Living Space

Now that you've identified the prime living space for your beehive, it's time to get all of the pieces set in place. This lesson features a live demo showing you how to do just that.

Organize Your Tools & Workspace

Organization is an important part of beekeeping, especially if you're working on a tight time frame. In this lesson, you'll learn about organizing your tools & workspace so you have everything you need at a moment's notice.
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3 Chapters

April - June

Setting Up Your Beehive 1 Lesson

Understanding The Components of Your Beehive

Previously, we looked at where to put your beehives and how to set them up in the living space. In this lesson, we're going to cover all of the individual components that make up your beehive.

Getting Properly Suited Up 3 Lessons

Under Armor

No matter what you do, you will not be able to stop 100% of bee stings. However, having the right under armor can drastically reduce the number of times you get stung, allowing you to focus on inspecting your hives. That's what you'll learn in this lesson.

Beekeeping Suit, Gloves, and Veils

Once you have your under armor properly situated, it's time to get into your bee suit! In this lesson, you'll discover everything you need to know about suits, gloves, and veils including how to get properly suited up for maximum protection.

Getting Stung & What To Do About It

The reality of beekeeping is that you are going to get stung at some point and that can actually be a good thing. This lesson will discuss why there's no avoiding this as well as what to do when you do get stung.

Bee Packages 3 Lessons

What To Expect At Bee Package & Nuc Pickup Events

Picking up your bees is quite possible the most exciting day of the entire season. It's basically Christmas for beekeepers :) But with so many logistics involved, what should you expect? That's what you'll discover in this lesson.

Installing Your Bees In Your Hive

Once you have your bee packages or nucs in hand, what do you do with them? This lesson will cover what you need to do to set your hives up for the rest of the season.

Reasonable Intervals For Checking On Your Bees

New beekeepers LOVE to check on their bees. To be fair, it's exciting! But is doing it all the time a good idea? Complete this lesson to learn the appropriate intervals for checking on your bees after you've installed them.
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Ongoing Maintenance 3 Lessons

Providing Ongoing Maintenance

Now that you've established your check-in schedule, what do you do when you actually get into your hives? In this lesson, you'll learn exactly what to do and what to look for.

The 80% Rule

One of the most important things you need to know to provide good maintenance for your bees is The 80% Rule. In this lesson, you'll discover exactly what this means + why it's so critical to follow.

Performing A Proper Inspection Of Your Beehive

In this lesson, you'll get a step by step demonstration of how to properly do a hive inspection. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for in your own hive inspections.

Diagnosing & Addressing Disease 4 Lessons

Colony Collapse Disorder

One of the most pervasive causes of honey bee decline is Colony Collapse Disorder. This lesson will cover everything currently known about this elusive "disease".

Mites

Without question, mites are the most discussed disease/pest honey bees face. In this lesson, you'll learn how to separate fact from fiction as well as what to do when you encounter mites.

American Foulbrood

Foulbrood is one of the most contagious and deadly diseases encountered in beekeeping. You'll discover the telltale signs of foulbrood and what to do if your bees contract it.

Wax Moth

While wax moth is not as common as some of the other beekeeping diseases & pests, it can still cause a lot of headache for your bees. In this lesson, you'll learn the signs you need to look for as well as what you can do to avoid getting it in the first place.

Preparing For Extraction 2 Lessons

Determining Whether Or Not You SHOULD Extract

As a new beekeeper, you're probably dying to extract honey your first year. But you should NEVER endanger the health of your bee colony for the sake of a harvest. In this lesson, you'll learn how to make the critical distinction of whether or not you should extract.

Preparing Your Extraction Workspace

Before jumping into the extraction process, you need to setup your extraction workspace. This is exactly what you'll learn to do in this lesson.

Extracting Your Honey 1 Lesson

Extracting Your Liquid Gold

The most exciting part of your season is here! It's now time to extract your honey! In this lesson, you'll get a step by step walkthrough that will maximize your enjoyment during the process.
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Post-Season Cleanup 3 Lessons

3 Keys to Successful Wintering

Wintering your beehives doesn't need to be a complicated process despite what you may have heard to the contrary. In fact, the most effective and successful wintering is simple and straightforward. This is what you'll learn in this lesson.

Cleaning & Safely Storing Your Supplies

Congratulations! You've had a successful season! But you're not done yet. In this lesson, you'll discover how a little bit of cleanup now will save you loads of time, hassle, and month come next year.

Preparations For Next Season

Welcome to the final lesson of Backyard Beekeeping Launchpad! As a parting gift, we want to set you up for success in the future. In this lesson, you'll learn how to springboard your success into next season and beyond.
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