NY Bee Wellness Workshop
New York Bee Wellness Workshop Info
NY Bee Wellness Workshops
The Empire State Honey Producers Association (ESHPA.org) will be offering intensive 2 day, skills oriented, hands on workshops in 2012. These are part of a 3 year Train the Trainer program to teach beekeepers techniques in diagnosing, treating, and preventing honey bee diseases. Primarily targeting New York beekeepers with less than 10 years experience and women beekeepers, participants from other states are welcome as space permits.
The workshops will be held at 3 different locations in New York:
May 19/20, Saturday/Sunday in Canandaigua (Western NY),
July 14/15, Saturday/Sunday, Pocantico Hills (north of NYC)
August 10/11, Friday/Saturday, Ballston Spa (Albany area)
We are asking beekeeping clubs or other groups to sponsor a team to attend the workshop, as an investment to the beekeepers in their community. The workshops are also a way to prepare for the EAS Master Beekeepers, and as a way to update skills for current Master Beekeepers. The intent is to guide beekeepers in how to check their hives like a bee inspector, or as close as possible, using a low student/teacher ratio.
The workshop is divided into 2 levels:
*Tier I (the Trainers), will attend the intensive workshop, should have at least 2 years of beekeeping experience (including Winter), some teaching experience whether it be as a primary instructor or as an assistant, recommendation from a beekeepers group or a CSA or other agriculture group that you intend to teach, describe why you wish to join the program,and complete online reading assignments in preparation for the workshop.
*Tier II are the beekeepers that will be taught by the Tier I trainers at their local club or organization as a group. ESHPA members will also provide mentorship and teaching tools at the this level.
PLEASE NOTE: The workshop will be considered completed only after the participant(s) has taught their group.
Content from The Beekeepers Handbook 4th Edition (Sammataro & Avitabile) will be used as required reading.
Diseases covered will be American & European Foulbrood, Nosema, Mites, Chalk Brood, Viruses, CCD, and other bee maladies.
Topics include:
• record keeping & use of surveys
• Specimen collection for in field testing
• How to prepare specimens for lab diagnosis
• Microscope use
• accessing resources online
• preparing an outline for teaching a group
• mentoring
The BeeInformed.org Winter Loss and Beekeeper Management surveys will be presented in the workshop and all participants in the workshop are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys as a means to establish
the efficacy of the workshop. The Empire State Honey Producers (ESHPA) will provide teaching tools and follow up mentorship.
Instructors will be experts in the field of apiculture such as Dr. Larry Connor, Peter Borst, Diana Sammataro & Al Avitable.
Cost: 150.00 for the initial student from a group, 50.00 for each additional student from the same group
Note: Number of students from each group may be limited as space permits
Contact: Please contact Pat Bono with any questions about the workshops, Pat@ESHPA.org , 585-820-6619
ESHPA is committed to supporting a new generation of beekeepers in New York State that reflects the diversity in our communities.
These workshops are made possible through funding from the USDA NIFA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program, Grant # 2011-494400-30631, and with matching funds from the Empire State Honey Producers Association.
The Empire State Honey Producers Association is the state organization for beekeepers in New York; it is a not-for-profit group, and welcomes new members. The group has been promoting the interests of New York beekeepers since 1868. ESHPA.org