Michael Fields Agricultural Institute offering beekeeping classes
By Jen Bradley
Correspondent
It’s no secret that winter in Wisconsin isn’t going away quite yet. Many farmers are carefully planning how they will step into spring, and those at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy are offering guidance for the way.
Part of this planning is contemplating crop management methods for the new season, which will arrive eventually. Sandy Andrews, the educational program director at MFAI, is excited for the start of the 2014 Whole Farm Workshops, four of which will be held in just a few weeks on Saturday, March 8.
Andrews says many farmers are asking about bees, the declining population of this critical pollinator, and what they can do to help.
“More than one-third of the world’s crop production is dependent on bee pollination,” she explains. “We need more people taking care of bees so we hope through our workshops to have people consider beekeeping.”
Bee Keeping and Bee Habitat workshops are both being offered on that Saturday at the MFAI facility in East Troy. Andrews explains attendees will learn how to take care of bees: from the equipment, you will need, the cost associated with beekeeping, feeding, organic control of pests and diseases, and swarm control. She said participants will also learn how to create a bee habitat, locate nectar sources, how to find and lease a location, and information on how to overwinter bees. If this is being done in their back gardens then it is important for attendees to understand that any pests that may arrive have the potential to get in their homes if not properly managed. Incidents like these can cause homeowners to call in pest control experts to sort the issue, however, this can be avoided if they take on board what the professionals are saying during the session.
Dan O’Leary with Honey Valley Apiaries is teaching the morning session, while Peter Poli from Humdinger Honey Works, is presenting in the afternoon on habitats.
“Bees are the most important pollinators of fruits, vegetables, flowers and crops like alfalfa hay that feed our farm animals,” says Andrews. “Humans have been drawn to honeybees since early recorded history mostly to harvest the honey which is an amazing sweetener.”
She says the dying honeybees affect everyone and everything. “When bees have access to good nutrition and we plant more bee-friendly landscapes and habitats we, humans, have access to good food through their pollination services,” Andrews adds.
The second set of classes on March 8 revolves around fruit: the first on managing an apple orchard, including organic ways to handle pests and diseases. The other focuses on skills needed for grafting and pruning fruit trees, that you would otherwise need a professional Tree Service to assist you with. Furthermore, this session is very hands-on, so she says attendees should dress for the weather, as well as planning to take home their very own rootstock to get started.
“You need to know what varieties to choose, what grows best in your yard and how to take care of your trees once you get them in the ground,” says Andrews.
She says growing fruit trees is not a difficult thing, but anyone interested will find a little training helpful when just starting out. “Fruit trees are beautiful and provide health food for your family,” Andrews adds. “It is such a joy to harvest your own apples.” Deirdre Birmingham, an MFAI grant advisor from the Cider House Far, is leading both these workshops.
All the workshops are $40 for three hours of training, with snacks, coffee and tea provided. Andrews says there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions and interact with instructors. “Plus, we are always happy to have past workshop students visit and ask for help,” she says.
Andrews notes, last year MFAI received a donation from a resident of Whitewater, Betty Refior, who enjoyed attending many of the Whole Farm Workshops. The 226-acre farm she donated will be transitioned from conventional to organic production, says Andrews.
“Longer-term, the farm will become a demonstration farm to display how crops can be produced without chemical inputs and be economically viable.”
The Whole Farm Workshops also help promote resiliency for those in agriculture, says Andrews, by teaching skills to farmers or garden market vendors which will diversify their business.
In 2014, the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. Andrews says for three decades, the institute has helped beginning farmers and gardeners, and is looking forward to playing an even bigger role in the surrounding communities in years to come.
How to register
There are several ways to register for the Whole Farm Workshops at MFAI, or learn more about other upcoming events:
• go to www.michaelfields.org, and click on the Whole Farm Workshops logo;
• use the same website to print and mail a form;
• go to http://bit.ly/mfaiwfw to be directly taken to the registration page;
• call (262) 642-3303, ext. 100;
• email Sandy at sandrews@michaelfields.org.
