Starts Feb. 5th, 2026!

Come join us on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in February for this 6 session including a workshop on how to get started in Beekeeping in West Virginia,  Classes will meet of Feb 5,10, 12, 17,19, & 24th at the Eldora United Methodist Church from 6-8pm.  $60

Fee includes: 2 books, "Firsts Lessons in Beekeeping" & "A Field Guide to Honey Bees and their Maladies",  2026 Membership in both the Marion County Beekeepers Association ( MCBA) and the West Virginia Beekeepers Association (WVBA), Discount on the American Bee Journal magazine, and FREE registration to the 2026 WVBA Fall conference.

For more information email MCBAWV@gmail.com

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2026 Syllabus  

1.  Bee Biology                                                                                      February 5th, 2026

   Welcome and Introduction – Dana & Jamie

A. Personal Equipment & Components of a Hive (Chapter 3) – Pete Somers

Bee veil, Gloves, Smoker, Hive Tool, Optional Items, etc: Hive body, Supers, Frames

Foundation, Queen Excluder, etc. Importance of “Bee Space” (5/16”)

B. Next Steps (Chapter 4)- Dana Gray

Choosing a location, Package vs NUCs, Suppliers, when to order, Local vs Out-of-State

2.  Getting Started                                                                                February 10th, 2026

A. Individual & Community Biology ( Chaper 2) – Shanda King, WV State apiarist

Queen, Worker, Drone, Development stages, Function, work of each “Caste”, Pheromones, Food, Reproduction, Hive population varies, Swarming, etc.

B. The importance of food “Nectar Flow” (Chapter 5 p79-84)-Christine Zawaski, PhD, WVU

Bloom Chart, Bees like some food better than others.

3.  Workshop- Chuck Cienawski                                                         February 12th, 2026

Assemble frames and supers

4.  Hive Maladies & Treatment                                                            February 17th, 2026

A.  Pests and Predators (Chaper 8) - Bill Daetwyler

Verroa Mites, Tracheal mites, American Foulbrood, Nosema, and Pests (Hive beetles, Wax moths, Ants, and Animals)

B. Treatments and When to do them

Organic acid-based options like oxalic and formic acid, synthetic miticides such as amitraz, and other products for specific pests and diseases.

5. Seasonal Management                                                                     February 19th, 2026

A. Seasonal Management ( Chapter 7)-Jamie

Year Management Practice with attention on Early Spring, Late Spring and Summer management to possibly include treatment option stations.

B. Supering (Chapter 5, pg 73 & 74)-Jamie White

Strong Colony needs, Excluders, Adding supers, always start with 10 frames

C. Treatment Stations

Various MCBA club member will set up stations so that the class can walk through different treatment options, gather information, and ask specific questions about treatment strategies for honeybees.

6.  Harvesting Honey                                                                            February 24th, 2026

A. Methods (Chapter 6, pg 85–88)- Charlie Metz

(Honey and Moisture), Shake and brush, Bee escape, Fume Board, Blower

B. Comb Honey and Extracted (Chapter 6, pg 88-97) -Charlie Metz

Product preparation and storage of Honey and other products (wax, pollen, propolis)

C.  Cooking with Honey - Nancy Postlewhait