Preliminary Beekeeping Exam

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Preliminary Beekeeping Examination.
This year huge interest has been shown towards completing the Preliminary Beekeeping Examination. It will be possible to have this done locally if we have ten or more members interested. From the feedback we are getting it looks as if this figure will be easily achieved. It will be a first for this Association that we know of and it shows the interest our members have in the many aspects of our wonderful craft.
The benefits of the exam:
We will qualify to buy bees from other associations.
We will be presented with a certificate with possibly a special event to mark the occasion.
It will enable us to go on to the next level of studies.
Our understanding of honeybees will have improved.

Details:
Exam will be held on 26th May at 9.30am
Written part: 20 easy questions in 30 minutes.
5 minute practical at hive opening.
Cost €20.

Past papers may be viewed on the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations website under ‘Education – Syllabus’.
Nobody will fail provided a small bit of preparation is done.
Fortunately we have the expertise of one of our new members to guide us.
John Cunningham has kindly offered to prepare us. Just one session we’re told will suffice.
We have booked Wednesday 16th May at 7pm for this with the Roanmore Centre being the venue.

We will be signing up interested parties next Wednesday. Applications need to be submitted before the end of this month so we don’t have much time in this regard.

2019 Introduction to Beekeeping Course

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Introduction to Beekeeping Course

Date: Wednesday 20th & 27th March & 3rd April 2019
Time: 7 – 9pm each night.
Venue: The Roanmore GAA Centre, Cleaboy. Waterford. X91 EC92.

Fee: €80

The course fee of €80 covers the following:

  • Lectures x 3 (inclusive of practical demonstrations).
  • Visits to the Association Apiary x 4 for actual demonstrations in May/June/July/August.(Weather Permitting)
  • Membership of the EWBA and Federation of Irish Beekeepers until 31/12/19.
  • A copy of An Beachaire (the Irish Beekeeper’s Magazine) monthly until 31/12/2019.

To register for the course download the Membership Form in the Membership Tab on the Home page or you can email Anne Marie EWBA Secretary at waterfordbees@gmail.com for a form or phone 086-2064919 for further information.

This Course facilitates a hands-on approach right from the start.

The course comprises of 3 x 2hr sessions , covering the practical and theoretical aspects of the craft.

The course will cover subjects like:

The Hive and its Occupants
The Honey Bee Colony
What Bees Collect
The Hive and all its parts
Setting up an Apiary
Protective gear and Equipment necessary
Summer Management of Bees
Swarming
Harvesting Honey
Preparing bees for the Winter
Spring Management of Bees
Honey Bee Products
Bee Diseases and Treatment
Record Keeping
There will be practical components to the course e.g showing you an actual hive and all its parts and showing you how to make frames etc.

There will be at least 4 visits to the Association Apiary  from April – July where the real practical experience of opening hives, identifying the hive occupants,  handling bee frames, finding the Queen, seeing where nectar, pollen and honey is stored, doing hive inspections, becoming familiar with all hive parts and much more.

 

 

 

2018 Lectures

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In all events below (bar the beginners course) the venue is the Roanmore GAA Centre, Cleaboy, Waterford and start time is 7pm.
As much as possible the lectures will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

January 10th.
‘Talking beekeeping’ with John Cunningham.

February 14th.
‘Spring Management’ with Jim Power.

March 14th.
‘Swarm control’ by Bea Flavin.

April 11th.
‘Native Irish black bee versus the rest’

by Dr. Tomas Murray of the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

September 19th

’Preparing for Winter’

by Michael Maunsell

October 17th

‘Bees and Plants’

Aoife Nic Giolla Coda

 

A.G.M. Adjourned to Wed. 29th Nov.

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We held our AGM on 15th November. It was felt that members should be given time to reflect on the subject of affiliation to FIBKA or IBA. The AGM was adjourned to Wednesday 29th when it is hoped business will be concluded. Again it’s a 7pm start at the Roanmore GAA Centre. There will be a cuppa there for those who arrive early for the chat.