Beginners Beekeeping Course (4 classes) - 18 Jan 2026

Learn about bees and what it takes to keep a hive of your own. This 4-class in-person course will cover everything from basic bee biology and behavior, to setting up and taking care of a hive over the full season. This course is lecture-style only. There is no hands-on beekeeping. Schedule: 1/18, 9-11am - Class 1: Honey Bee Basics 2/1, 9-11am - Class 2: Prepping For Your Bees 2/15, 9-11am - Class 3: Caring For Your Bees 3/1, 9-11am - Class 4: Pests & Disease This course will prepare you to establish a hive on a rooftop, balcony, or backyard. Beekeeping is easier and more rewarding than you may think, and an excellent hobby to get into in the city or suburbs. At the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to sign up for a free 30-minute consultation with our Master Beekeeper to determine your next steps and a custom strategy for the upcoming season. Your instructor is Nick Hoefly. Nick is a Certified Master Beekeeper and has been keeping bees professionally in NYC for over 10 years. Aside from his own bees, he is a trusted beekeeper for NYC institutions like Green-Wood Cemetery and the Javits Center, not to mention many new and seasoned hobbyists who rely on his expertise to help them improve their own beekeeping skills. Benefits Live classes with guidance and Q&A with a Certified Master Beekeeper. Course materials to include season- and location-specific references for NYC and the surrounding areas, cheat sheets, and season strategy worksheets. Free Meet the Bees Hive Tour ticket for the 2026 season($45 value). Free 30-min Consultation with the instructor to help you get set up for next season($60 value). Apply the cost of this course to your 2026 Urban Beekeeping Academy tuition if you decide to take the leap.   FAQs Is there a minimum age requirement to attend? This course is recommended for ages 13+. What do I need to bring to the event? You're welcome to bring a notebook or laptop to take notes. Handouts for specific information covered in the class will be provided. Do I need to purchase any books or other materials? We do recommend "The Beekeeper's Handbook" as an excellent source of material for the new and continuing beekeeper however, it is not a requirement to take this course. We sell the book here and you're welcome to pick it up when you attend the class.  What's the refund policy? We will honor 100% refunds within a grace period of 48 hours after purchase. There is no grace period for purchases within 7 days of the first class. After the grace period, refunds are not available for this course. Please look over the description and contact us with any questions or concerns before you purchase your ticket. This is a multi-day course and we will not issue partial refunds for missed days. If you purchase a ticket and cannot make it, you may transfer the ticket to another person before the course starts. Please contact us with their information at least 24 hours before the course. Transfers will not be honored after the course starts. Can I take just a few of the classes? This is a full course and cannot be purchased a la carte. Whether you come for one class or the whole thing, the price is the same. Each class builds on the information from the one before so the course works best when you attend all classes. How can I contact the organizer with any questions? You can always drop us a line at hello@astorapiaries.com with any questions not answered here. We'd love to talk with you. Can I purchase this course as a gift for someone else? Yes! This course makes a great gift for the future beekeeper. Please put the recipient's name and email address in the relevant RSVP fields.