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Learn Beekeeping

If you're interested in becoming a beekeeper, there are a variety of beginning classes available to help you get started.

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Company Goals for Educating

Hidden Hollow Honey has a passion for educating.  We enjoy helping people be successful and enjoy the hobby of beekeeping.  There are so many aspects of beekeeping to keep the beekeeper engaged and learning.

Our main course is called the Beekeeper’s Year.  This course is designed to follow the beekeeping year and teach students about subjects that are relevant to colony management during that specific time of year.  Classes start in March and are held monthly through October.  Each class is a mix of classroom education and field exercises. 

Our motto is

“With Hidden Hollow Honey, You Aren’t Beekeeping Alone”.

To live up to this motto, we also teach informally by writing blogs, answering questions via phone/email, and occasionally doing hive inspections with our customers.  To be notified of learning opportunities as they are offered, consider subscribing to our email list.

The Beekeeper's Year Class


The Beekeeper's Year Class is a beginner-friendly course that provides step-by-step instruction for those starting their beekeeping journey or for those who want a refresher on the basics. The course includes a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on learning in an apiary (weather permitting).

The classes are structured to be broken down into bite-size details for better retention and understanding. Each class covers what you should expect to see, and do, during the month following each class. Classes are held on the third Saturday of each month March through October.
Class is from 10 am to 12pm. Classes are free but registration is required. Seating is limited.

Topics are subject to change, but are generally scheduled as follows

March 16th
  • Bee Biology, Reproduction & Jobs
  • What is in the cells
  • Setting up a hive
  • Tools and Equipment
  • The Beekeeper’s Year
  • Benefits of Keeping Bees
  • Apiary Prep and Placement
  • Bee Clubs and Resources
April 20th
  • Installing a Nuc
  • BeeCheck.org
  • When to Feed
  • Hive Inspections/Observations
  • Record Keeping
  • How Bees Communicate
  • Field Exercise – Lighting Smoker, Feeding, Inspection
May 18th
  • Understanding Swarms
  • How to Split a Hive
  • Adding Honey Supers
  • Bee Foraging – Plants and Seasons
  • Pest Management
  • Field Exercise – Hive Inspection, Locate the Queen, Split A Colony
June 15th
  • Queen Facts
  • Queen Anatomy
  • Re-Queening (When, Why, and How)
  • Rearing Queens
  • Artificial Insemination
  • Field Exercise – Demonstrate the step-by-step process of queen rearing
July 20th
  • All about harvesting Honey
  • Field Exercise – Harvest Honey
August 17th
  • Helping Bees During the Dearth
  • Integrated Pest Management – Varroa Destructor
  • Field Exercise – Mite Wash, Oxalic Acid Vaporization
September 21st
  • Problem-solving class
  • Honey bound
  • Queen less colony
  • Laying worker
  • Hive beetles
  • Checker Boarding
  • Honey in the bottom box
October 19th
  • Winter prep
  • Weighing Your Hive
  • Winter feeding and Bee Candy
  • Winter management
  • Late winter management
  • Preparing for Spring
  • Field Exercise – Making Candy Board

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Testimonials

“Hidden Hollow honey is the best! We use it every single day!! I have the limit the honey sticks from my 7 year old! Amazing honey and wonderful people!”

Sarah H.

“I use it every day on my morning cereal and because I have allergies in the fall. I can tell it helps with the allergies and that alone makes it great.”

Pat K.