Sunday, October 4 – 10:00am – 1:00pm
Instructor: Gordon Mackay

As beekeeping becomes even more popular in recent times, the importance of some introductory knowledge becomes even more important prior to getting our honey bees.
This workshop is aimed at providing new beekeepers with knowledge that will help them with setting up their first colony of honey bees next spring.
We will be covering; equipment required, methods to purchase bees, swarming, potential pests and diseases (yes we will be talking about the dreaded Varroa mite…!) and also look at a few recommend flowering plants for our local area which are important nectar, pollen and propolis sources for honey bees.

Participant Fee $25
Register online or call 250 479 6162

Instructor Bio: Gordon Mackay
During his time as a horticulture student on the two year program at Threave School of Gardening in Scotland, Gordon was deeply inspired by honey bees. It was only a matter of time before this interest became an obsession.
Gordon is currently on the Executive Committee of the Cowichan Beekeepers Society and has completed the BC Bee Masters Certification.
He was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 2019 National Honey Show and Conference in the UK. He has been a student of Andrew Abrahams at the Colonsay Black Bee Reserve in Scotland, a world renowned island where the population of black native honey bees are protected, researched and maintained by Andrew. Colonsay is one of the few places in the world to be free from the Varroa mite.