Ohio State University Extension in Warren County is offering this webinar series as a replacement for the 2021 Southwestern Ohio Beekeeper School which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our “live” school will return on March 26, 2022. Mark your calendars.

The following webinars are free but do require you to register for each meeting at our website. Anyone is invited to participate, but attendance is limited to 300 people.

March 22, 2021 at 7pm
Equipment Basics
Amanda Bennett, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County
Many products are available to the beginner beekeeper. But which ones do you really need? This session will cover basic equipment needed to begin your beekeeping adventure. The benefits and drawbacks of different systems will be discussed and participants will take away a list of essential items needed.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://osu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckd-GqpjgiGdO8dUP3KBEuz098SzKwtTs6

March 24, 2021
Bee Basics at 7pm
Amanda Bennett, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County
Opening up a hive can be a very daunting task for the new beekeeper. What is “normal”? What should a beekeeper be looking for during inspections? It is important for all beekeepers to understand normal lifecycles, seasonal activities, bee abnormalities and oddities to be able to accurately assess colony health and look for red flags to guide management decisions.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://osu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIufuutpzkpGdHbLzWSTR6N37v6UTC0cL2k

March 29, 2021 at 7pm
Bees and Plants: An Essential Relationship
Denise Ellsworth, Ohio State University, Program Director, Pollinator Education
Bees depend on plants for energy-rich nectar and high-protein pollen, while plants depend on bees and other couriers to transport pollen from flower to flower. This session will focus on the rewards plants offer and key plant sources of this essential food. Participants will also learn how to use phenology to track bloom time of local plants using a web-based biological calendar.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://osu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkd-uurz8qGNUXejqtpN-nA5fBrDZ71pUo

For more information about the Southwestern Ohio Beginner Beekeeping Webinars, contact Greg Meyer, OSU Extension Educator in Warren County, by email at meyer.213@osu.edu