MBG Beekeeping Class Coming Up

The Mobile Botanical Gardens (MBG) is hosting Natural Beekeeping: Principles and Practices for the Backyard Apiary on February 28 at 1-4 p.m. Veronica Culberson of Honey of the Hill and Dr. Don Culberson, an entomologist professor, will talk about the vast differences in industrial and hobby beekeeping. They will discuss the whys and hows of honeybee behaviors, what the bees want, and how to use their natural tendencies to support their health and production. Other topics covered include apiary site selection and setup for healthy and productive colonies, hiving options, sourcing livestock, inspecting your bees and recordkeeping, supporting (rather than preventing) swarming, natural disease and pest management, expanding your apiary organically and how to learn from failures. Weather permitting, there will be viewing of live bees. While the seminar is not a beekeeping 101 class, it is for aspiring, new or even seasoned beekeepers who want to learn about the more natural, low-impact and regenerative side of beekeeping. The fee is $40 for MBG members and $45 for nonmembers.