COBKA 2025 Beginners' Beekeeping Course Registration Information Registration Fee (Non-Members): $20-$60, which includes a one-year membership to COBKA. Registration Fee (Members): Free of charge. Members may also choose to contribute by registering at a fee to support COBKA’s mission. Hands-on course intended to provide information and strategies for the new beekeeper to successfully navigate the first year of beekeeping using Langstroth hives. Topics to be covered: Woodenware Setup/Location Acquiring and installing new bees. Tools & Protection Colony Inspection Varroa Bee Biology The course is in-person only. The Embark Coworking Community: 2843 NW Lolo Dr. Bend, OR 97703 Questions: email Muffy - All questions welcomed. If course attendees are looking for bees for 2025, the best time to order bees is January and early February, for delivery around May. Area Suppliers Your first task - Get your feet wet and keep abreast of the 'Monthly Central Oregon Apiary Notes' archives (COBKA homepage). Very informative for beekeepers in our area. This course will be aimed at the beginner beekeeper, however anyone who has interest may attend. Recommended textbooks (not required): - The Beekeepers Handbook (Fifth edition), Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile - Story's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, Malcom Sanford and Richard Bonney - Beekeeping for Dummies, Howland Blackiston - First Lessons for Beekeeping, Keiths Delaplane As more research is done, information distilled, techniques perfected the texts change. We would recommend getting the most recent revision of any textbooks you'd like to use.
COBKA 2025 Beginners' Beekeeping Course
Hands-on course intended to provide information and strategies for the new beekeeper to successfully navigate the first year of beekeeping using Langstroth hives.
Topics to be covered:
The course is in-person only.
The Embark Coworking Community: 2843 NW Lolo Dr. Bend, OR 97703
Questions: email Muffy - All questions welcomed.
If course attendees are looking for bees for 2025, the best time to order bees is January and early February, for delivery around May. Area Suppliers
Your first task - Get your feet wet and keep abreast of the 'Monthly Central Oregon Apiary Notes' archives (COBKA homepage). Very informative for beekeepers in our area.
This course will be aimed at the beginner beekeeper, however anyone who has interest may attend.
Recommended textbooks (not required):
- The Beekeepers Handbook (Fifth edition), Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile
- Story's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, Malcom Sanford and Richard Bonney
- Beekeeping for Dummies, Howland Blackiston
- First Lessons for Beekeeping, Keiths Delaplane
As more research is done, information distilled, techniques perfected the texts change. We would recommend getting the most recent revision of any textbooks you'd like to use.
Guest Speaker: Lisa Sanco, Executive Director of Worthy Garden Club & A Founding Member of Pollinator Pathway Bend
Join us for an engaging and informative discussion on Planting for Pollinators, just in time to prepare for the spring gardening season!
Lisa Sanco is the Executive Director of Worthy Garden Club and a founding member and board member of Pollinator Pathway Bend. With over a decade of experience in horticulture, ecological landscaping, and native plant advocacy, Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. She began her career at the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2011 and has since become immersed in Central Oregon’s native plant and pollinator ecosystem, inspired by her work with the Oregon Bee Project.
Lisa will guide us through the fascinating world of pollinator-friendly gardening, covering:
Lisa’s passion for biodiversity conservation and ecological landscaping will inspire us to create thriving pollinator habitats. She’s also very open to questions—don’t be shy!
✅ Open to all—invite fellow gardeners, beekeepers, and nature lovers!
Don’t miss this opportunity to get inspired for the upcoming planting season!
The meeting will begin at 6:00 PM, with a Beginner’s Corner session starting at 5:00 PM. Membership is not required to attend our meetings, all are welcome!
Location: 16 NW Kansas Ave, Bend, OR 97703
If you’d like to join via Zoom, please use the link below. Note that you will need to be signed in as a COBKA member. The Beginner’s Corner portion of the meeting is not typically streamed.
COBKA Meetings Online
