Are you ready to start your own apiary in Southwest Missouri? Beekeeping is one of the most rewarding investments you can make for your land and local ecosystem, but it requires the right guide. Nixa Hardware & Seed Co. is proud to offer a comprehensive, free beekeeping class in this 7-part video series designed to take you from a complete beginner to a confident beekeeper.
Expert Instruction from a 3rd Generation Beekeeper
Recorded live at our Nixa location in June 2021, this course features Dan Barton, a respected third-generation expert. Unlike generic national guides, Dan focuses on the specific challenges of keeping bees in the Ozarks—from managing our unique humidity levels to timing your harvest with local wildflower blooms. He shares his years of experience with you in this online beekeeping class.
What You Will Learn in This Free On-Demand Series:
- Harvesting: Best practices for extracting wax and raw honey.
- Hive Setup & Gear: Essential protective attire and hardware for your first season.
- Bee Behavior: Understanding the colony, the Queen’s role, and swarm management.
- Pollination: How to boost local populations in Springfield and surrounding towns.
Intro: Supplies & Local Bees
- Gear Check: The essential protective tools you need before bees arrive.
- Buying Bees: Why you must pre-order Nucs (Jan-April) for May pickup.
- Local Support: How Nixa Hardware staff can troubleshoot your apiary.
Part 1: Spring Build-Up & Splits
- Feeding: Timing 1:1 syrup to stimulate early brood rearing.
- Swarm Prevention: Spotting “swarm cells” vs. “supersedure cells.”
- Splits: How to use a double screen board to create a free second hive.
Part 2: Varroa Mites & Hive Beetles
- Varroa Mites: Alcohol wash testing & treatment options (Formic/Oxalic).
- Small Hive Beetles: Using traps (Swiffer sheets/oil) effectively.
- Hive Location: Why full sun is your best natural defense against pests.
Part 3: The Colony & Caste System
- The Castes: Identifying Queen, Worker, and Drone roles.
- Queenless Hives: Recognizing “laying workers” and how to fix it.
- Swarm Psychology: Why bees leave and how to catch them.
Part 4: Requeening & Winter Prep
- Requeening: The critical 3-5 day rule for acceptance.
- Bait Hives: Using lemongrass oil to catch feral swarms.
- Winterizing: Ventilation vs. Insulation (prevent moisture buildup!).
Part 5: Reversing & Expansion
- Spring Reversal: Rotating brood boxes to encourage upward growth.
- Checkerboarding: Manipulating frames to draw out new comb fast.
- Split Timing: When to divide a strong colony for maximum yield.
Part 6: Supers & Nectar Flows
- Supering Up: The “70% Rule” for adding honey boxes.
- Nectar Calendar: Hitting the Black Locust & Clover flows.
- Summer Dearth: preventing robbing during the July/August dry spell.
Part 7: Harvesting & Wax
- Clearing Bees: Fume boards vs. Bee escapes.
- Extraction: Uncapping, spinning, and checking moisture.
- Wax Moth: Storing drawn comb safely with Para-Moth.
Start Your Beekeeping Journey Today
Whether you are in Republic, Ozark, or right here in Nixa, this is the practical, local advice you need. Watch the full series, then visit us at NixaHardware.com or in-store to pick up the supplies Dan recommends to get your hives thriving.
