Urban Beekeeping Academy

The total cost is the price listed on the program listing page.

Some students have chosen to purchase their own protective gear or additional hive equipment for the hive they are maintaining. This is not necessary but is welcome with prior permission from the instructor.

No, this is an adult program for those 21 and up. Please check out some of the programming we have on our Events calendar for kids.

No, there are no additional fees from us. The tuition paid upfront covers materials and instruction.

If you prefer to purchase additional safety gear on your own or would like to use certain tools outside of the basic tools we use, you'll be responsible for those costs. We are happy to provide recommendations, but it's best to stick to the basics, especially for your first season.

Due to the limited capacity of this program, tuition is non-refundable. If you cannot participate for some reason, you may transfer your slot to another person before the start of the program in January. Please contact us if this is the case. It is your responsibility to find a replacement person, however, if we know of others who would like to attend the program, we will connect you with them. Please make sure you can commit to this program before you sign up and pay the tuition.

Unfortunately we do not offer a payment plan at this time.

Yes! No matter if you are just starting or have had bees for a few seasons, this program will strip away the noise and help you focus on what counts to keep a healthy and thriving hive.

Most of the sessions will be held at Sky Farm in Long Island City, Queens. We have an excellent teaching apiary there. Street parking is available and it's a short walk from public transit.

Some sessions will be held at The Honey House at Astor Apiaries in Astoria, Queens. Other sessions may be held at other apiaries around the city. We will finalize locations well in advance of the session so you have time to make arrangements. Transportation to and from all locations will be your responsibility.

Unfortunately no. In order to provide a time when most people can make it and when we can use our shared-use sites, Sundays are the only consistent day we can plan for.

Since beekeeping has different requirements throughout the season, there may not be an opportunity to make-up a particular session. For example, treating a hive may be required during one session and not for any other sessions. Your instructor(s) will be happy to try to get you up to speed, but we cannot guarantee formal make-up opportunities for missed sessions. Please review the schedule on the program listing page and make sure you can make all or as many sessions as possible before you pay your tuition.

If the weather is not cooperating with us, we may be forced to cancel a session. Necessary beekeeping tasks will be adjusted between sessions as needed and we will make every effort to make sure students still get to experience what was missed. We cannot guarantee that missed opportunities will be made up.

Other weather events that can have an impact on beekeeping activities besides rain include but are not limited to: low temperatures, overcast skies, and wind. If the conditions are ok to meet but not ok to open the hives, we may still hold a session and forego the 'hands-on' part of the session. Again, we will do what we can to move any missed opportunities to future sessions but it is not always possible. We are all sometimes at the mercy of the weather. By paying your tuition, you understand these risks and that they will not constitute any reimbursements or refunds.

Unfortunately no. Beekeeping is a hands-on craft and is difficult to learn unless you have your hands in a hive. We may have some session lectures over Zoom video calls in certain situations, but the majority of the program will be onsite and in-person.

We are happy to see what you have and make adjustments to your tuition. Please note that we do require certain minimums of gear and materials to participate, so any adjustments are at our discretion. Send us an email at hello@astorapiaries.com and we'll see what we can work out based on your unique situation.

You can but we highly recommend that you do not. If you do, please consult your doctor to make sure you are taking appropriate preventative measures in case of stings, especially if you may suffer anaphylactic shock. We will not be responsible for providing EpiPens or other forms of medication to treat allergic reactions. In case of an emergency, 911 will be called and we will assist EMTs as instructed. We are not medical professionals and should not be relied upon to provide medical care. Stings are inevitable as a beekeeper and should be taken as a serious threat for those who have allergies. Please note that students who drop out of the program for any reason will not be eligible for full or partial refunds in any case.

In order to keep everyone safe and respect our host site(s), all participants must be fully vaccinated and be able to show their vaccine card or equivalent app-based proof. Fully vaccinated means having the initial full dose(s) of either of the 3 shots available. The booster shots are not required, although highly recommended. Masks may be required in some situations so please have one with you at all times. You also agree to notify us and quarantine yourself for 2 weeks if you have come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID or if you have tested positive.

Due to the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, some sessions may be held virtually. We reserve the right to hold a virtual session in place of any planned in-person session if we feel the risk to participants is too great.