1:1 Beekeeping sessions
Hello and welcome to the new practical course. I wanted to create a course for people who want to understand bees more and want to do so throughout the summer. One day never works, I believe you need to be responsible for your own colony and get to know them and their needs. This is my first time doing a course like this, so you might need to bear with me for the first summer as I sort out the kinks. My only passion is for people to learn more about bees, and I hope that can be achieved authentically through sharing the knowledge I have, and allowing others to connect with this ancient hobby.
The structure
You will be given 4 weeks to complete this course. You must complete it in the summer, so if you feel your summer is jam-packed, this course is not for you. You will also need to be available when the bees are, which is from 9 am to 5 pm. They are 9-5 kind of creatures just like us. Both weekend days and weekdays are available for people completing this course. I would advise completing this course over four consecutive weeks.
You have 1 hour in each session, but if you go a bit over, it’s grand, just don’t take the piss!
Week 1
Book your first appointment. On the first day, you will get an introduction to beekeeping and pick the nuc you will be looking after for the next 4 weeks. I will give you some reading material and a checklist for the hive to track its progress. The reading material will be the book I wrote on beekeeping for beginners.
Week 2
Book your second appointment at least a week apart. Work through the checklist given to you and ensure your colony is progressing. If not, what does it need? Extra feed perhaps? On this day, I will only be floating, so you can let me know if your nuc needs to be fed or treated for any diseases.
Week 3
Book your third appointment, again, at least 1 week after your previous appointment. You will get the chance to check the bees on your own this time—some peaceful time to get to know them. If by week 3 you think they need a larger home, you can move them into a hive (I can assist you with that). Three weeks into summer would suggest that they do.
Week 4
Book your final appointment. You can either take the bees home with you at this stage or decide it was a wonderful summer project and say goodbye to the bees. You get some extra beekeeping time if you decide to leave them in Coolmore.
Some final thoughts…
This course is for individuals who prefer to complete courses on their own time rather than in a group. You can view this course in a couple of ways:
1. A great way to learn about beekeeping before you commit to a colony of your own. You will also get to know your bees very well before purchasing them.
2. A new way to enjoy your summer. Come down to Coolmore in the sunshine and spend an hour every week dedicated to your bees and to nature. Beekeeping can be viewed as therapy if it's not to make money from honey. When you’re beekeeping, you concentrate only on the bees, letting your mind rest and settle on one thought:
“Are you going to sting me?”
The cost
It’s hard to price something like this, but here I explain my reasoning behind the cost:
€65 per week
I have made the cost €65 per week as it adds up to the cost of a nuc if you complete the 4 weeks, plus the cost of renting equipment and time. I hope this cost will be affordable to people, and if it isn’t, don't hesitate to get in touch with me, and we can arrange something that works for both of us. I have also decided to make it weekly so you can bow out at any time without any commitment or refund.
Equipment
I will provide gloves, a suit, a hive tool, a smoker and writing material. You will need to wear your own boots (any boots that cover your ankle) and bring your own bottle of water to stay hydrated.
When and where
The days will be Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays in May, June and July , between 9 am and 4 pm. The bees will be out and about in May, but I won’t have the 2026 queens out and laying until mid-June. The where will be in Coolmore, Carrigaline. It is only a 15-minute drive outside Carrigaline town.