General Meetings
General meetings are held at 6:00 pm the first Thursday of each month except December. See the “Meetings Tab” or click HERE for more information.
Upcoming Classes
Cal Poly Humboldt Extended Education will offer two beekeeping classes in 2026, taught by Dick LaForge and Jeannine Kaprielian.
Are you curious about keeping bees but don’t know where to start? Practical Beekeeping is the perfect introduction. This course will equip you with the essential skills to keep honeybees for honey, pollination, and other hive products—or simply for the joy of it.
You’ll explore the fascinating biology of honeybees, learn about essential beekeeping equipment, and develop management techniques to ensure your hive thrives. Alongside classroom instruction, you’ll get hands-on experience, preparing you to step confidently into the rewarding world of beekeeping. Participants will even have the opportunity to purchase bees during the course.
Required textbook: Beekeeping for Dummies, 5th edition, 2020, by Howland Blackiston.
- Dates: Mondays, February 9 – May 4, 2026 (No classes March 16) plus four Saturday field trips
- Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
- Location: Cal Poly Humboldt Campus
- Fee: $225. One or two college credits are available for $85 each. Cost for Olli members is $185 but credits are not available.
For those ready to enhance their beekeeping expertise, Bee Yard Experience offers a deep dive into the hands-on aspects of hive management. Meeting at the bee yards of instructors and students, this course provides a unique opportunity to follow the progress and challenges of active colonies.
You’ll inspect colonies to assess their condition, guide them toward good health, and learn techniques to optimize honey production. This immersive course builds on prior experience, making it ideal for those who have taken Practical Beekeeping or already have a background in beekeeping. To gain a full-spectrum understanding of beekeeping, we recommend enrolling in both courses.
- Dates: Sundays, February 15 – May 3, 2026 (No class March 22)
- Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Off-campus bee yards
- Fee: $225. One college credit is available for $85. Cost for Olli members is $185 but credit is not available.
For more information, interested persons can call Dick at 707-443-2626
Dick LaForge – Dick LaForge manages eight beehives near Freshwater. He produces on average six new colonies and several hundred pounds of honey each year. He has taught bee classes at Humboldt since 1998. Dick is at Journeyman level in the California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP).
Jeannine Kaprielian – Jeannine Kaprielian began beekeeping by taking Practical Beekeeping in 2009. She has an apiary on her small farm in the Hoopa Valley. She also keeps bees on several coastal sites, giving her insight into specific issues facing both inland and coastal beekeepers. Jeannine is at Master level in the California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP).
To get class details and to register click HERE or call 707-822-3731 for more information