Organic Beekeeping Workshop With Ross Conrad

Celebrated Vermont beekeeper Ross Conrad will host an Organic Beekeeping workshop on Saturday, March 14, from 9 AM to 1 PM. This workshop includes two highly-requested topics by local beekeepers: "Overwintering Bees and Spring Management" and "Beeswax: Production, Collection, Processing, and Uses". The event is presented by The Nature Museum at Grafton and will take place at NewsBank Conference Center at 352 Main Street in Chester, Vermont, across from the main NewsBank campus.

Overwintering Bees and Spring Management: One of the most challenging aspects of keeping bees in the Northeast is successfully overwintering the hives so that bees survive through the spring. Ross will discuss the primary issues that need to be addressed to help bees survive the winter and how to steward colonies through the critical time period of late winter and early spring. Beeswax: Production, Collection, Processing, and Uses: This workshop will cover the origins within the body of the bee to its uses for health and healing, everyday practical use, and artistic expression. Participants will explore the origins of beeswax within the hive, its properties, how bees use it, and how we benefit from this incredibly useful substance. Various methods of collection and processing will be discussed that are especially suited for the small-scale, hobby, or part-time beekeeper.

Conrad will present a balanced view of natural and organic beekeeping topics not often covered by conventional beekeeping lessons. Questions are encouraged at this interactive workshop, and plenty of time will be allotted to discuss beekeeping and answer questions with Ross. Ross will be signing copies of his book following the workshop. Light morning refreshments will be served, featuring special treats from Grafton Village Cheese! Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. Please register by Monday, March 2, to receive the early bird price of $25 for this four-hour workshop. After March 2 or at the door, the price will be $35. Visit www.nature-museum.org or call (802) 843-2111 to register.

Conrad is the author of Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture. He learned his craft from the late Charles Mraz, world-renowned beekeeper and founder of Champlain Valley Apiaries. A former president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, Conrad is a regular contributor to Bee Culture: The Magazine of American Beekeeping. His beekeeping business, Dancing Bee Gardens, supplies honey, candles, and other bee-related products and also provides bees for Vermont apple pollination.

This talk is part of The Nature Museum at Grafton's 2015 community program series, "Look Up." This full year of programs focuses on the idea that to appreciate the wonders of the natural world, all we need to do is to look up: Look up to see the birds, the bees, the stars, the trees, and the clouds. Look up from your phone, tablet, or laptop to connect with others and the world around you. Look up to the naturalists, experts, & activists who are working to better our world! Located at 186 Townshend Road in Grafton, Vermont, The Nature Museum at Grafton offers museum admission by free-will donation, vacation camps for youth, and nature programs for adults, children, and schools. Event information can be found on The Nature Museum at Grafton's website: www.nature-museum.org.