Want to become a beekeeper? Curious about the inner world of a hive? Dreaming about making your own honey? Join instructor Julia Common for this five-part certified beginner beekeeping course and learn how to safely and confidently start caring for your own bees.

About this course:

Rooted in the love for bees and the culture of the hive, our Certified Beginner Beekeeping Course covers the core principles that support the best practices of beekeeping. Whether you plan to be a hobby or commercial beekeeper in a rural or urban setting, this course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to start your journey with your bees.

This course is also an opportunity for practicing beekeepers to refresh their knowledge or perhaps provide new perspectives on how to best manage your livestock given our ever-changing environment.

Date: Sat Feb 8th & Sunday Feb 9th + 2 Field Days 

Field Days: May 31st & June 14th 

Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time)

Format:

This class takes place in the late Winter and will allow participants to get a jump on the beekeeping season. February does not always allow for spending much hive visit time, so the class will be predominantly indoors.

Two field days will be offered to supplement this beginner course. The first will be held on May 31st, 2025 and the second will be on June 14th, 2025. We also recommend returning later in the season for one of our many hands-on workshops that will be taking place from April - October. Taking a beginner class is a necessary first step before being able to participate in hands-on workshops.

NOTE: We also recommend that those interested in participating in our beekeeping course take the free Ministry of Agriculture webinar as a pre-curser, although this is not a requirement to join our course. Beekeeping courses - Province of British Columbia

We also recommend that those interested in taking up beekeeping join a local bee club so they are in contact with other beekeepers on an ongoing basis once they complete the course.

Location: This workshop will take place at Urban Bee located at 5300 34b Avenue in Delta, BC. We are located in the same location as West Coast Seeds, of which Urban Bee is a division, and we share their beautiful grounds which include trial gardens, orchards, and a beautiful heritage house.

Don't miss this opportunity to embark on your beekeeping journey! Register now to secure your spot in this Certified Beginner Beekeeping Course. No prior experience is required, and all materials will be provided. Come and experience the buzz!

About the Instructor:

Julia has over 40 years of experience in beekeeping and over a decade teaching new beekeepers how to get started with their passion. She is a BCHPA certified instructor and member of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists. She was co-founder and formerly chief beekeeper of Hives for Humanity. Julia’s current focus lies in her research, pollination work, and livestock production through her new operation ‘Bees Actually’.

Julia has many years helping hobbyists and urban beekeepers. She knows what is most helpful for “newbees” making their management decisions and is inspired to help them become thoughtful, informed and successful beekeepers! You will love her enthusiastic teaching style, and she is well known for her fun but insightful presentations.