Buzz into the world of home-scale beekeeping through hands-on classes at the Horn Farm Center!
This monthly program explores the full scope of small-scale apiary management: from its scientific and ecological underpinnings to stewarding a colony throughout the year.
From January to October, 2026, trainees will learn the basic biology of honeybees and the fundamentals of seasonal management. At the conclusion of this first year, each trainee will have the option to transfer a bee colony to their home property. Trainees can then opt to enroll in the program for a second year at a discounted rate, benefiting from the repetition of class content and learning more advanced techniques as they supervise an active hive at home.
This program is led by commercial beekeeper Mark Gingrich of Gingrich Apiaries, offering plenty of hands-on learning experiences and troubleshooting with apiaries at the Horn Farm Center. Following three in-person classroom sessions during the winter, trainees spend the spring through the fall conducting in-the-field inspections and seasonal management to ensure robust, resilient, and productive hives.
Beekeeping supports community pollination and food supplies while fostering bee populations outside of the commercial beekeeping industry. Plus, beekeeping can provide a multitude of personal benefits, including honey, beeswax, and pollen, all of which can support a small cottage business or simply your own household use.
Spaces are limited, so make sure to register soon!
Program Schedule:
All sessions take place in-person from 6PM to 7:30PM, except for the final session on Saturday, October 10th. Outdoor sessions occur rain or shine.
| Date / Location | Location | Topic Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, January 21st | Hellam Township Community Center* | – Meet & Greet – Program Overview |
| Wednesday, February 25th | Hellam Township Community Center* | – Honeybee Anatomy |
| Wednesday, March 25th | Hellam Township Community Center* | – Beekeeping Methodology – Parts of the Hive |
| Wednesday, April 22nd | Horn Farm Center | – First Open Hive Inspection – Spring Management |
| Wednesday, May 13th | Horn Farm Center | – Open Hive Inspection |
| Wednesday, June 10th | Horn Farm Center | – Open Hive Inspection – Summer Management |
| Wednesday, July 8th | Horn Farm Center | – Open Hive Inspection |
| No August Session | ||
| Wednesday, September 9th | Horn Farm Center | – Open Hive Inspection – Fall Preparation |
| Saturday, October 10th 7:30AM | Horn Farm Center | – Wrap-up – Take Bees Home |
Program Requirements / Expectations:
- Trainees must not have allergies to bees. Expect to get stung at some point during the program – its an unavoidable aspect of beekeeping.
- Trainees will be responsible for purchasing their own safety equipment and woodenware (hives/boxes). Guidance on what to purchase occurs within the class sessions.
- A general understanding and basic knowledge of beekeeping is helpful, but not required. Foundational information will be covered in the classroom sessions.
- Participation in the second year is not required but highly encouraged. Second-year trainees are able to revisit class content “in real time” as they steward their own colony at home.
*Note: information in this course is cumulative from week to week. We ask that anyone registering for this course plan to attend all or most of the sessions. Classes cannot be joined or audited individually, and discounts are not provided for missed classes.
Make sure to read the Horn Farm Center’s Cancellation and Refund Policy before registering.
Program Cost: $500/person
- First year trainees can pay in full or reserve their spot with a $100 non-refundable deposit. Anyone who registers by paying the deposit will receive follow-up communications about submitting future payments.
- Trainees interested in enrolling in a second year can do so at a 50% discount: $250 for year two.
- No scholarships are available at this time.
