Beekeeping for Beginners – Workshop 1 of 4

Beekeeping is a rewarding hobby and most homesteaders and urban farmers can undertake it but where do you start? If you are interested in beekeeping, dreamed of harvesting your own raw honey, cutting out store-bought sugar, and watching bees thrive, than this is the program for you! If you are reading this ad and proactively getting ready to start beekeeping in 2026, I am honoured to be considered as your potential teacher and mentor.

I will teach you beekeeping throughout the year in 2026 over a series of four classes. They are 2 hours each. The class material is designed to cover each season. By spreading out the classes, you will retain the knowledge better, be well prepared for the challenges ahead, and increase your chances of producing honey in your first year!

Beekeeping is not as easy as setting and forgetting. In this 2 hour class Daniel goes over the following:

• The biology of the honey bee
• How much time it REALLY takes, broken down by season
• Real dollar start-up costs and annual maintenance
• The risks most beginners ignore (Mites, AFB, etc.)
• Ontario laws & regulations
• Equipment selection and the truths
• A Seasonal roadmap – what actually happens in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter in our climate (zone 6a/6b Southern Ontario)

After completing the first class, you will know if beekeeping is your passion or an expensive hobby you’re glad you avoided. After the first class, you will order bees, and be taught throughout the year what to do. If you take all my classes, you will grow your bees, keep them well, potentially harvest honey in the first year and be well prepared for winter.

I will present a comprehensive slideshow (60-80 pages per class) and perform example inspections with an empty hive. Checklists, calendar templates, excel cost calculators, and other handouts will be provided throughout the classes. A digital copy of the slides will be provided by to each student after the class.

Daniel Kneblewski is a professional civil engineer with tutoring and teaching experience since 2010. He currently is a hobby beekeeper and growing this part of his 26-acre hobby farm in Waterdown, Ontario. Daniel has had interest in beekeeping since 2012, studied the biology of bees in 2018 and became an urban beekeeper in 2019. With teachings and mentorship from a master keeper over 3 years, Daniel started with 1 hive in his Oakville backyard and now manages 15-25 hives on yearly basis. Daniel has a strong passion for beekeeping and believes anyone can take on this wonderful hobby. Be ready to learn and expand your knowledge in the wonderful world of beekeeping. If you're wondering how to start beekeeping, what are the costs, and determine if it is right for you, then this is the class for you!

Also check out other Workshops in Hamilton.