Fanshawe College has launched a new beekeeping program this summer.
The program works with the college’s apiary, located near the baseball diamonds on campus.
Fanshawe’s apiary is monitored by a dedicated beekeeper. Visitors are welcome but must obtain permission, as the area is fenced off.
The course consists of a mix of in-class learning and regular lectures that are highly interactive, along with time in the apiary, where students apply what they have learned in practice, said Graham Thompson, a professor in the program.
“I think a lot of people who are interested in beekeeping and might consider taking this course think that bees are interesting, or cute, or admirable, but it’s not exactly 100 per cent certain what that interest is,” said Thompson.
May 20 marks World Bee Day, which raises awareness of the important role bees and other pollinators play in the ecosystem and the challenges they face.
Students also learn about the biology and evolution of bees, as well as the cultures and history associated with beekeeping.
“Fanshawe is a little more thorough, with a lot of contact time spread out over the summer. There are classes starting in the spring, another group in June and another at the end of July. That’s meant to roughly capture the different seasons and the bee cycle,” said Thompson.
“When you learn how their societies function, I think that’s the jaw-dropper. People are sitting at the dinner table after the course saying, ‘You would not believe what I learned about bees today,’” he added.
Beekeepers’ hives not only produce honey, but are also used to pollinate crops at certain times of the year. These are called pollination services and play a major role for farmers.
