Beekeeping workshops set for spring in Ontonagon

Ever want to know about the hobby of backyard beekeeping? Then there are few people better to tell you about it in the Upper Peninsula than Les McBean, owner of White Birch Apiary in Bruce Crossing.

McBean will be teaming up with Michigan State University's Ontonagon County Extension to offer two backyard beekeeping workshops.

Beekeeping is a trend leaning toward the hobbyist and small apiary owners, says McBean.

"Commercial beekeepers (outside of the U.P.) are dying, and wild bees are dying too," he says.

This Saturday, at Ewen-Trout Creek School in Ewen, there will be a beginning beekeeping workshop starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. During that session, McBean will focus on a year in the life of a beekeeper and will cover what equipment is needed to get started, the kinds of equipment easily made at home, inspecting your colonies and how to recognize a queen-right colony, a laying working or queenless colony. Other subjects will include different races of bees, building bear fences, making splits and more.

Registration deadline for the event is tomorrow and costs $25 for adults and $15 for youth 12-18 years old and includes lunch. For more information or for a registration form, contact the Ontonagon County MSU Extension office at 906-884-4386 or email.

The second workshop will be March 26 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the same location. Highlights will be about testing honey for water content, storing honey as well as demonstrations, re-queening and the latest in treatments, techniques and beekeeping news. Registration deadline is March 24.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Les McBean, White Birch Apiary