We are offering a queen rearing workshop in May! We'll have 3 instructors this year: Jana Patterson, Stephen Martsolf, and Tim Wessels (see instructor bios below). This online learning session is a pre-requesite to attending the practical experience workshop. This first session is free and open to all. The practical experience session has a single $25 fee to cover the cost of materials.
Attendees to this online session will receive a link to register for the 2nd session.
Session 1: ONLINE LEARNING - Free
No previous experience necessary. Open to all. No limits
Date: May 8 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm
The first session will be on Zoom where we will cover how honey bees make queens and explore several methods that beekeepers can use to raise queens in their own apiary. Both grafting and non-grafting methods will be discussed.
The Zoom link will be provided after registration.
Session 2: PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE - $25
Pre-requisites:
- Minimum of one full year of beekeeping experience
- Attendance at the above online class on May 8 from 7-9pm
- Limited to 12 people
Part 1: May 15 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Starter/Finisher Setup
This part is optional, but recommended
Bring your bee suit and gloves (no hive tools or other equipment).
Part 2: May 17 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm OR 12:30 - 2:30 pm - Grafting Sessions
Larvae, grafting tools and equipment will be provided.
After attending the online learning session you'll be sent links to register for ONE time slot 10-12 OR 12:30-2:30. Limit six students in each session.
Part 3: May 27 4:00 - 6:00 pm - Queen Cell Pickup
Students can expect to receive up to 1 or 2 developed queen cells depending on the success of their grafting. You will be notified if your queen cells "took" a few days after grafting. If you have successful queen cells, they must be picked up in this time frame. Any queen cells not picked at this session will be distributed elsewhere.
Instructors
Jana Patterson started her beekeeping journey 5 years ago with a couple of friends. She dove right in and immediately started the Oregon Master Beekeeper program at OSU. She will finish the Master level this year with proficiencies in Honey Bee Diseases and in Gardening for Pollinators. She manages around 6 of her own colonies in addition to having two at a Beaverton School District specialty high school where she teaches beekeeping to Juniors and Seniors. This is her third year managing and teaching at PUB's Learning Apiary where we have five colonies.
Stephen Martsolf started beekeeping 9 years ago. He and his partner were at a garage sale where someone had a veil and gloves for sale. A beekeeping 101 class at Bee Thinking, a used top bar hive, a split from someone with a top bar colony, and they launched into the world of beekeeping. Now, 9 years later he manages around 20+/- colonies of his own, works with Jana managing the Portland Urban Beekeepers colonies and manages around 30 colonies with Tim Wessels at his beautiful Green Anchors learning apiary!
Tim Wessels has been a long time beekeeper in Portland. The very first president of Portland Urban Beekeepers. He was one of the founding members of Bridgetown Bees until he ventured out to establish Green Anchors apiary. If you want to get plugged into the beekeeping community of Portland then Tim is the go-to guy. He knows every bee and every bee knows him.
This workshop is an incredible opportunity to work side-by-side with and learn from these amazing instructors!
