EWEN — There will be a beekeepers workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time Saturday, April 7 at the Ewen-Trout Creek High School in Ewen.

This workshop is designed for both the novice, people just getting started, and the experienced beekeeper. Some of this year’s topics will be:

— Equipment needed, both for the hive (boxes, frames, etc.), and the beekeeper (tools, protective clothing, etc.)

— Bees two-pound or three-pound package, verses a nuc, verses a single;

— Breeds of bees, which is better: Italian, Russian or Carniolan;

— How to install a package in bad U.P. weather (which we often have in late April);

— The importance of feed and the what, how, and when of feeding;

— Use of medications and their importance;

— How to capture a swarm and how to recognize a weak colony and what to do;

— How to process and extract honey;

— How to store and packaging options;

— Raw honey verses U.S. Grade A honey;

— Where you can sell your honey.

They received very good feedback on the swap n’ shop segment last year so they plan to do it again this year, It will be the last hour of the workshop. For experienced beekeepers, bring in anything bee/honey related that you want to sell or trade.

Some suggestions are: smokers, inner covers/candy board, covers, bottom boards, extra boxes you may have and don’t use. Last year they had an extractor and it went fast. How about a dozen of your favorite honey cookies? Bee books, extra meds, grease patties would also be great, along with extra drawn comb frames. As experienced beekeepers they know the importance of drawn comb when you are just getting started

Les McBean, White Birch Apiary of Bruce Crossing, will have his refractometer for testing the water. Bring in a 12 ounce or 1 pound jar of your honey. He can test it for water content. He will also have his yearly honey exchange, leave one, take one.

McBean is looking forward to seeing everyone again. This is a good time for the local beekeepers to get together.

Contact the Ontonagon County MSU Extension Office for a registration brochure, 906-884-4386.