BEEKEEPING
FOR BEGINNERS

Learn everything you need to know to successfully start and maintain your own honey bee hive for the first three years of your beekeeping experience. Jesse “The Beekeeper” Frierson of East Coast Honey will discuss construction of hive boxes, honey bee care, hive maintenance, how to properly inspect a hive, and how to harvest honey. Learn how to prevent and treat pests, care for the queen, and prepare hives for the tough winter months in Virginia. Experience a live, close-up look at honey bees in an observation hive and get hands-on with constructing parts of a hive box.

Fees: Member $150, Non-Member $180

All programs are subject to change. Pre-registration through our website is required.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden strives to be a Garden for all and we are committed to offering diverse adult learning opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to all learners. If you would like to request an accommodation to support your participation in an adult learning opportunity at the Garden, please contact [email protected] or call 804-262-9887 x328 and we will make our best effort to help.

Register Member $150

Register Non-Member $180

Dates:
Saturday, February 21, 2026 - Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time:
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Event Details

This course takes place over three Saturdays from 10 am – 2 pm:

  • February 21
  • March 7
  • March 14

Jesse FriersonAbout the Instructor

At heart a devout “country boy” from Columbia, SC, Jesse Frierson’s beekeeping experience dates to 2010, after he heard about Colony Collapse Disorder. Like many at the time, Jesse really wanted to do something to help the struggling honeybee population. Shortly after moving from the city out to the country, a chance meeting with a local beekeeper led to Jesse joining a local beekeeping club, taking a beginner course, and later ordering two packages of honey bees just for kicks! Fast forward over a decade later, Jesse now oversees the operation of hives in three states: Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Trading as www.EastCoastHoney.com, its local, raw and unfiltered honey is prized as a solid staple for many families from the Washington, DC area to Charleston, SC. Over the years Jesse has attended many state beekeeping conferences in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Florida. He is also a Certified Beekeeper in South Carolina and holds beekeeping club memberships in both Virginia and South Carolina. An avid learner, Jesse continues to research many aspects of beekeeping to ensure continued successful experiences in caring for honey bees and helping them to produce prized and high-quality honey.

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