Beekeeping course coming to Horry County

Published: January 15, 2013

CONWAY — Learn to be a beekeeper with Clemson University’s state bee specialist and other experts by enrolling in a beekeeping short course in Horry County.

The five-class course will teach participants the basics of beekeeping, equipment and tools of the trade, proper handling of bees, harvesting honey and wax, managing pests, bee health and more. 

The course will be taught by Clemson’s state bee specialist Mike Hood, master craftsman David MacFawn and experienced local beekeepers. The course is the first step to becoming a certified master beekeeper.

The cost of the course is $40 per person and covers all learning materials. Register at the Clemson Extension Horry County office at 1949 Industrial Park Road in Conway. Pay by cash or check made payable to Clemson University. Credit cards are not accepted. For more information, call 843-365-6715.

 All classes are from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Horry County Extension office.

The short course is provided by the Blackwater Beekeepers Association, S.C. Beekeepers Association and Clemson Extension.

2013 Beekeeping Short Course schedule 

Jan. 24: Course Introduction

• Getting to know the Honey Bee
• History of beekeeping
• Thinking like a bee
• Honey Bee biology and swarming races of honey bees

Jan. 31: Parts of a Beehive

• Building equipment
• Other equipment
• Lighting a smoker
• Starting a beehive

Feb 7: Honey Bee Diseases

• Honey bee pests
• Pesticides and honey bees

Feb. 14: What Honey Bees Collect

• Products of the hive
• Seasonal hive management
• Sources of nectar and pollen in the coastal region

Feb. 21: Honey Handling

• Packaging and labeling
• Marketing hive products
• Course review and questions
• Certified-level written test

March Field Day (a Saturday; date, time and location to be announced)

• Hands-on beehive demonstration
• How to inspect a Honey Bee colony and find the queen
• Honey Bee colony management
• More on honey harvesting

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