1/2 day beekeeping course in Pessac near Bordeaux

Activity description :

Discover the world of bees during this training course in Pessac. For half a day, your trainer will help you learn the right gestures in the company of bees and discover all the secrets of the hive.

The course will be run by Perrine, who is passionate about bees and happy to pass on her knowledge. She works with local bees, in partnership with the conservatoire de l'abeille noire des Landes.

Course (2pm-5.30pm):

• The life of the bee: its development and usefulness, from birth to death (for the life of the colony and the human species).
• Its origins and the different species currently found in France.
• Colony development over the course of a season.
• Where and how to set up your hives for good colony development (environment, flowers, accessibility, etc.).
• What are the causes of colony mortality? Learn about diseases and their transmission, predators and the environmental impact on colonies.
• Buying or capturing a swarm? What you need to know, where to find them, what to watch out for...
• How to let the bees express themselves: wax or no wax, different types of frames...
• The different types of hives available in France (choosing the hive model that best suits your needs and your apiary).
• The equipment needed to get started in beekeeping (protective clothing, mechanical or manual extraction equipment, hive, etc.).
• Beekeeping in town or country: advantages and disadvantages.
• Recommended books for sustainable beekeeping.
• Various harvesting and packaging options.
• From theory to practice: Visit to the apiary and handling of 3 different models of hives: Warré, Dadant, Langstroth (handling according to each participant's level).
• Questions and answers session.

Come and discover the intelligence of these insect societies, and learn how to preserve them through simple initiatives.