LACBA Beekeeping Class 101 at Bill's Bees Bee Farm

The 2016 Season of  the Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association Beekeeping Class 101 begins Sunday, February 21, 9AM-Noon, at Bill's Bees Bee Farm. Classes are held on the third Sunday of February, March, April, May, June, July, August, and October. In September, we share our beekeeping knowledge and experience volunteering at the Bee Booth at the Los Angeles County Fair.


We teach responsible beekeeping for an urban environment, adhering to Best Management Practices for the bees, beekeepers, and general public. These classes are ideal for Backyard Beekeeping in Los Angeles. All are Welcome! 

Beekeeping 101 is the entire session of beekeeping classes: from February through October 2016. We highly suggest you begin in February and continue through all the classes. Although you are welcome to come in the middle of the season, you will have missed out on valuable information. We currently do not offer advanced beekeeping classes. REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BEE SUITS FOR ALL CLASSES EXCEPT THE FEBRUARY AND MARCH CLASSES. 

Location: All classes will be held at Bill's Bees Bee Farm, 12640 Little Tujunga Blvd., Lake View Terrace, CA 91342 Tel: 818-312-1691. (MAP http://goo.gl/maps/Hz7NS) EXCEPT the March 20 class which will be held at The Valley Hive: 9633 Baden Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311 Tel: 818-280-6500.

Dates:  Classes are held on Sundays only: February - October.  (No class in September - we'll be sharing our knowledge at the Bee Booth at the Los Angeles County Fair.) 

Time: Classes held 9am-noon.  

Cost: Beekeeping Class 101 is free to LACBA members. Membership is $10/year per household. New members are welcome to join at the classes. 

Registration: You do not need to call, email, facebook or contact us in advance to register for class. Just show up. It is not required that you attend all the classes but it is suggested you do in order to get the most benefit out of learning to work with bees. If you missed the first class you can still attend, just show up. 

What You'll Need: Bee suits not required for the first or second class (February & March). We suggest you wait until after the first beekeeping class (the February class) before you purchase bee suits and equipment. That way you won't purchase what you don't need. You may also want to bring materials for taking notes.  

ALL OTHER CLASSES (REGARDLESS OF WHEN YOU START COMING) REQUIRE FULL BEE SUITS (HAT, VEIL, GLOVES, FULL COVERING - JACKET & PANTS, HEAVY SHOES THAT THE BEES WON'T STING THROUGH, PANTS TAPED AROUND THE BOTTOM SO THE BEES CAN'T GET UP YOUR LEGS). IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTIVE ATTIRE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE CLASS. 

Our goal: To walk you through a season of keeping bees.  

The first class will be about equipment and materials; what you need and what you don't need. If you haven't bought anything yet, WAIT until after class so you don't spend money on things you don't need.   

Some of the topics we'll cover are:

• Care of ourselves and others as we learn responsible beekeeping in an urban environment
• Protective clothing (bee suit, hat, veil, gloves, etc.)
• Apiary Rules and Regulations in LA County
• How to approach a hive
• What to do if you come in contact with an aggressive hive
• Bee stings
• Construction of a hive
• Safe placement of a hive
• General maintenance
• Stages of life cycle within a colony
• Troubleshooting in the hive
• Diseases, mites, moths, and their treatment 

Schedule of Classes for 2016:

Class #1: Sun., February 21, 9am-noon, Bill's Bees Bee Farm. Topic:  Introduction to Beekeeping Equipment, Locating a Hive, Rules and Regulations in LA County. (No bee suit required).

Class #2: *Sun., March 20, 9am-noon, The Valley Hive. Topic: Woodworking, wiring frames. (NO BEE SUIT REQUIRED).

Class #3: Sun., April 17, 9am-noon, Bill's Bees Bee Farm:  Package Installation and what goes on inside the Bee Hive. (BEE SUIT REQUIRED)

Class #4: Sun., May 15, 9am-noon, Bill's Bees Bee Farm: Hive Management. (BEE SUIT REQUIRED)

Class #5: Sun., June 19, 9am-noon, Bill's Bees Bee Farm:  Lessons in Pest Management. (BEE SUIT REQUIRED)

Class #6: Sun., July 17, 9am-noon, Bill's Bees Bee Farm: Harvesting and Extracting Honey. (BEE SUIT REQUIRED)

Class #7: Sun., Aug. 15, 9am-noon, Bill's Bees Bee Farm: Finding and Treating for Mites, Lessons in Pest Management/Hive Health. (BEE SUIT REQUIRED)

September: Various dates at the Los Angeles County Fair: Using our knowledge to educate others.

Class #8: Sun., Oct. 16, 9am-noon, Bill's Bees Bee Farm: Keeping Bees Alive Through the Dearth. (BEE SUIT REQUIRED)  

All classes will be held at Bill's Bees Bee Farm except the March 20 class which will be at The Valley Hive 9633 Baden Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311 818-280-6500.

Location & Directions to:
Bill's Bees Bee Farm 
12640 Little Tujunga Blvd.
Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
Tel: 818-312-1691
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Hz7NS

Note:  Access to Bill's Bees requires crossing a stream bed (crossable by car) but be prepared for dirt roads. Arrive 15 minutes early to check-in so we can get started on time.  

Directions to Bill's Bee Farm:

Exit the 210 Freeway at Osborne:

If you're heading East on the 210 turn Left on Foothill, go under the overpass. Turn Left on Osborne. 

If you're heading West on the 210 turn Right on Foothill. Turn Left on Osborne.

Stay on Osborne, it becomes North Little Tujunga. You'll pass Middle Ranch on your right. Continue for 1.4 mi. past Middle Ranch. You'll pass US Forest Service Ranger Station on your left. Then you'll come to a sign on your right: Angeles National Forest. (Three roads meet: Little Tujunga Road, Marek Mtwy, and Ebey Herreras Truck Trail.)

Turn right and enter through the Big Yellow Gate. You'll be on a dirt road. (This is Ebey Herreras Truck Trail.) Cross over the stream bed and continue up the trail (approx. 1 mi). Once you pass the sheep, it's only a little further. 

(NOTE: ALL INFORMATION REGARDING BEEKEEPING CLASS 101 WILL BE POSTED (AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT) ON THE LACBA Facebook Page and on the LACBA Website. Thank you!) 

We look forward to seeing you at LACBA Beekeeping Class 101!

Enjoy!
Bill & Clyde
Bill's Bees