Beekeeping for Beeginners - An Introductory Course for New and Aspiring Beekeepers

Keeping honey bees is thrilling. And fascinating. But getting your first hive (or hives) started can be... overwhelming. For example: Should you keep langstroth hives or top bar hives? (What's the difference?) Which bees should you get, and where? What equipment do you really need? Where should you/can you put your hive? How do you make sure your new bees are okay? Yeah. New beekeepers have a lot of questions.

Believe me, we've been there. Hi! We are Matt and Brin Nichols... beekeepers and owners of Balm and Honey Farm. As new beekeepers, we read a lot of books, drove to countless beekeeping club meetings, and paid for expensive bee classes. We wasted good time and money on outdated advice, equipment we didn't need, and methods that wouldn't work for our style or region. And while we encourage you to read all you can, join beekeeping associations, and educate yourself, we also want to save you the hassles and headaches we experienced as a new beekeeper.

You don't have to go it alone.
If you're curious about beekeeping, you're in good company. When you take this course, you'll join other new and aspiring beekeepers in learning how to set up your hive, tend to your new colony, and deal with new beekeeper challenges. Using the latest resources, pictures and videos from our own working hives, and peer-reviewed advice and methods, this class will walk you through the early planning stages of beekeeping... all the way to your first jar of honey!

Help is on the way.
Yes, you can read every beekeeping book, article, and blog post out there. You can watch every bee video on YouTube. We know, because we practically did. But the more we read and watched, the more confused we got. I mean, there's a common joke among beekeepers that goes something like this: Ask 5 beekeepers a question and you'll get 10 different answers. And it's true. There's so much information out there that it's difficult to condense it all down and get an actual answer to a single, simple question.

That's where this course comes in and saves the day. In Beekeeping for Beeginners, we'll cover 8 essential modules with information and answers you really need, such as:

• Module 1: Why Keep Honey Bees? (And If It's Right For You)

• Module 2: Honey Bee 101
  

• Module 3: Suits, Smokers, and Supplies: What Equipment Do I (Really) Need?

• Module 4: Getting Bees: Who, What, When, Where, and How

• Module 5: Let's Talk Hives (How To Set It All Up)

• Module 6: Hive Inspections: Propolis, Pests, and Problems

• Module 7: Honey, Honey, Honey! (When and How To Get It Out)
• Module 8: Bee Law (Regulations, Honey Sales, AG EXEMPTIONS, etc.)

• Bonus Module: Wax and Other Hive Products
• Super Bonus Module: Traditional vs. Natural Beekeeping

In addition, you'll also get our favorite apiary cheat sheets. (You'll use these for years to come, trust us.) We're talking:

- Hive Inspection Log Sheet

- Pesky Pest Printout (What You Need to Be Looking For)

...and more. You're going to want to buy one of those binders for your bee stuff, because we're going to fix you up!

This course is for you if...
This Beekeeping for Beeginners course is right for you if you agree with any of the following statements:

- I want to learn more about beekeeping before I make a decision whether or not to begin this venture.

- I am an aspiring beekeeper trying to get educated before I begin keeping bees.

- I have decided to begin beekeeping but do not have bees or equipment.

- I have just begun beekeeping and am nervous/have questions about my bees and whether I'm doing this correctly.

- I am a new beekeeper (first 1-2 years) and would like more information on what I'm seeing/how to inspect my hives.

If any one (or more) of these statements describe you, you've come to the right place, fellow bee friend.

We're your new best bee friend (BBF).
Before we spend some time together learning all about bees, maybe I should introduce myself. Hi! I'm Brin Nichols. I love honey bees, and want to do everything I can to help you become a successful beekeeper- whether you're in it as a hobby or to make money or to get that coveted ag exemption. After years in the oil and gas industry, I began Balm and Honey Farm, a farm in the East Texas piney woods. My Dad kept bees when I was a child (so I was familiar with honey supers and hive smokers), and in 2010, I bought a top bar hive and began planning a bee venture of my own. Fast-forward to today and I'm a founding officer of a Texas/Arkansas beekeeping association, run a growing apiary, and sell honey to the public. Most importantly, though, I'm a beekeeper who's made every mistake in the book and am passionate about coaching and cheering beginning beekeepers on to success -- while helping them avoid the mistakes I made.

So what do you say we begin?
Whether you're thinking about getting started in bees (or have hit your new hive overwhelm), the time to learn, ask questions, and get connected with a mentor is NOW. Let's get you off to a confident and educated start in beekeeping. If you're ready to jump in and start your hive and honey journey, I warmly welcome you to the Beekeeping for Beeginners course. Can't wait to see you on April 22, 2023!

Class details:

Beekeeping for Beeginners

Saturday, April 22, 2023  - 10 am to 2 pm

Location: Local Habit Coffee Company - 330 E. New Boston Road, Texarkana, Texas (Nash area)

*Materials and Food/Drinks will be provided.*

REGISTER NOW by completing payment here to reserve your seat in class. We'll follow up by email with you within 24 hours confirming you're in. And don't worry... we'll also send you reminders so you don't forget to come to class! If you have any questions between now and then, you can always email us at: hello@balmandhoneyfarm.com, or call us at 903-639-7627. But don't forget to register first by purchasing here.

(Cancellation/Refund Note: class prices are not refundable unless the farm or venue has to cancel, in which full refunds will be applied to your method of payment. But if you can't make a class after purchase, we will be happy to credit you a different class or product so you don't miss anything.)

See you soon!

Matt and Brin Nichols

Balm and Honey Farm