Beekeeping Courses at EREC Open to Community

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2016) — Retired Kentucky state apiarist Phil Craft is again teaching beekeeping courses at the University of Kentucky Ecological Research and Education Center (EREC) through June 2016.

With more than 15 years of beekeeping experience, Craft will teach two beginning courses and two intermediate courses. The courses are open to members of the UK community and the public. Courses cost $40 each and will be held at the EREC at 1737 Russell Cave Road in Lexington.

Each course requires advance registration by emailing philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net. Beginning beekeeping courses will be limited to 30 participants and intermediate courses will be limited to 40.

"Beginning Beekeeping – Getting Started" courses

·         Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

·         March 19, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The beginning beekeeping course will offer a brief introduction to honey bee biology and behavior, and beekeeping equipment. It will also cover how to manage hives, where to locate a hive, where to purchase bees, and potential problems that may arrive in the first year of beekeeping.

"Beyond Beginning Beekeeping" courses

·         May 14, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

·         June 25, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

This intermediate course will include instruction on honey bee biology, monitoring and controlling Varroa mites, common queen problems and solutions, honey bee nutrition, small hive beetle and wax moth control, reducing swarming, and more.

Craft, who was the state apiarist from 1999-2011, is a nationally known beekeeping instructor and lecturer, and author of the monthly question/answer column, "Ask Phil," in Bee Culture Magazine. Craft also offers beekeeping advice and assistance through his www.PhilCraftHiveCraft.com website. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and UK. He is also the U.S. technical adviser for Veto-pharma, the maker of Apivar, a Varroa mite treatment.

Additional courses will be offered later in the year. To receive information on future courses, contact Craft at philcraftbeekeeping@windstream.net. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Harder, 859-323-2396, whitney.harder@uky.edu