Garden for the Environment: Beginning Beekeeping: Bees in Winter and Preparing to Beekeep Next Year

Whether you’re already keeping bees or simply curious about what beekeeping involves, there will be something for you in this workshop. We’ll cover some basics on bees, the progress of them through the seasons, and what to expect as colonies prepare for the chillier, darker days of winter. We’ll also outline how you can prepare for beekeeping in 2026 if you plan to start your own hive. The class is designed for beginners so no prerequisite knowledge is required. You will be able to view bees in an observation hive during the workshop. Instructor Dan DeCuir is an avid gardener and backyard hen handler who has been keeping bees since 2006. He has been fascinated by social insects since childhood, when he dreamed of having a farm. He currently keeps three beehives in San Francisco: on a neighbor’s rooftop (at her request), at the Park Street Community Garden, and at Alemany Farm, where he has taught beginner beekeeper classes. He is a member of the San Francisco Beekeepers Association, and on the swarm catcher list – his first hive was a re-homed swarm. When not tending to his bees, Dan can be found planting vegetables and weeding in his plot at the Arlington Community Garden, feeding his backyard chickens, or trying to catch Dungeness crabs at local beaches.