Urban Beekeeping Academy – Astor Apiaries
Urban Beekeeping Academy

Urban Beekeeping Academy

$2,575.00
$2,575.00
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EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Use code "UBA2026" to save $200 until November 30th.

The Astor Apiaries Urban Beekeeping Academy is a fully immersive program where participants will learn responsible beekeeping skills and management under the supervision of a certified Master Beekeeper. This full-season program will cover all aspects of starting and caring for a colony of honey bees, harvesting honey, and being an informed member of the beekeeping community.

This program is $2495 if you pay by cash or check. An additional 3% is reflected in the online price to cover transaction fees. To save the transaction fees you can pay in person by cash or check. You can also mail in a check. We will not hold a slot until we have a check in hand. Checks should be made out to "Astor Apiaries, Inc" and can be mailed to Astor Apiaries, 33-22 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105

This purchase is NOT eligible for points from our rewards program.

By signing up and paying your tuition, you affirm that you have read and agree with the information in our FAQs. Please read them fully before making your purchase.

What You'll Experience:

  • 20+ Sessions & Events from January-November 2026 - Each session will include some lecture time and some hands-on time where you will practice concepts we carry through the season. Events will introduce you to aspects of beekeeping outside the hive.
  • Sessions will generally be 1st and 3rd Sundays from 9am-12pm at Sky Farm in Long Island City, Queens. See specific dates for details as some vary.
  • Hands-On Experience with a Dedicated Hive
  • Hands-On Honey Harvesting
  • Swarm Catching/Rescue (if available)
  • 1-on-1 Season-Long Mentorship
  • Multiple Apiary Locations to Visit
  • Private Group Chat With Instructor & Fellow Students

Additional Items Included:

  • A free copy of "The Beekeeper's Handbook"
  • Complementary 12-month NY Bee Club Membership
  • Bee Jacket
  • Hive Tool
  • Free 2-year license to Appiary, the hive tracking app
  • Completion Certificate
  • 10% Student Discounts to Astor Apiaries Products, Services, and Events

2025 Dates:

  1. 1/18 - 9-11am - Class @ The Honey House
  2. 2/1 - 9-11am - Class @ The Honey House
  3. 2/15 - 9-11am - Class @ The Honey House
  4. 3/1 - 9-11am - Class @ The Honey House
  5. 3/15 - 12-3pm - Hands-On Season Prep @ Sky Farm
  6. 3/29 - 12-3pm - Hands-On Season Prep @ Sky Farm
  7. 4/5 or 4/12 - 12-3pm - Bee Installations @ Sky Farm (very tentative)
  8. 4/19 0r 4/26 - 12-3pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm (very tentative)
  9. 5/3 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  10. 5/17 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  11. 5/31 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  12. 6/14 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  13. 6/28 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  14. 7/12 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  15. 7/26 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  16. 8/9 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  17. 8/20 - 9am-11am - Honey Harvest @ Sky Farm
  18. 8/22 - 8am-12pm - Honey Extraction @ The Honey House
  19. 8/23 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  20. 9/6 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  21. 9/20 - 9am-11am - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  22. 9/20 - 4-7pm - Honey Workshop @ The Honey House
  23. 10/4 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  24. 10/18 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  25. 11/1 - 9am-12pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  26. 11/15 - 12-3pm - Hands-On @ Sky Farm
  27. 12/1 - 7-9pm - End Of Season Dinner @ TBA

All dates in the schedule are tentative and may be changed. Beekeeping is always dependent on good weather and other factors outside of our control. If sessions must be rescheduled, we will do so with as much notice as possible.


Beekeeping Safety Considerations:

Beekeeping is fun and rewarding but also comes with the risk of physical injury to yourself or those around you. Our main priority is the safety of all those who visit our apiary sites. We will provide you with a safety briefing and make sure that all participants are adequately protected with safety gear in order to participate. Participants who do not bring the necessary gear or behave in a risky manner will be asked to leave immediately and may not be allowed to return. All participants will be required to sign a waiver for every visit to an apiary and agree to follow all safety instructions from Astor Apiaries team members or host site agents.

While we carry a first aid kit, please note that we cannot administer medication, including but not limited to Benedryl, epinephrine, etc. All participants are responsible for their own medications if needed.

For more information or for FAQs, please visit the Academy Page.

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
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B
Belinda
The hands-on experience gave me the confidence to start my own hives

I signed up for the Urban Beekeeping Academy because I'd always been interested in bees, and this was the only program I found that offered real hands-on experience, rather than just classroom learning. We were in the hives doing inspections, extracting honey, and working through real scenarios. Learning by doing made all the difference. The cohort created a supportive space where no question felt too basic, and Nick was patient, knowledgeable, and made beekeeping feel accessible. This program inspired me to not only get my own hives but to also pursue becoming a honey sommelier. If you want real, practical beekeeping training, I highly recommend it!

Y
Yasmin Batouta
The Best Anniversary Gift Ever: Forget Diamonds, Give Me Bees

Taking the Urban Beekeeping Academy with Nick was one of the best experiences of my life. My husband gifted me this course for our anniversary, and honestly, it was better than jewelry or a fancy dinner. As a new mom, I was nervous about managing the time, but the way the program is structured made it possible and worth every second.

Nick is a natural teacher. He is patient, knowledgeable, honest, and somehow knows how to work with every kind of personality. You can tell beekeeping is not just his job but his gift. He made learning both hands-on and approachable, whether we were suited up by the hives, talking through bee behavior, or just laughing through our mistakes.

I have always loved bees and dreamed of keeping them, and now I feel like I’ve actually stepped into that world with real skills and confidence. This class is inspiring, practical, and life-changing. If you’re on the fence, take it.....you’ll come out buzzing. 🐝

S
Sumaya Siddiqua
UBA 2025

This past year has been so enriching because of the UBA program. Nicks passion and knowledge in beekeeping/ honey is really contagious. The first few classes being lecture style set a solid foundation of what to expect once the bee packages come in early spring. Come spring, I felt a little bit more confident in my background of honeybees. Getting to interact with the bees became very therapeutic. Just like any other creature, learning the personalities, habits, and ways of our little ladies was never dull. With Nicks guidance, our group was able to navigate through many obstacles (too much rain, colony collapse, aggressive bees, ect). I will definitely carry on my lessons from this program for the rest of my life!

J
JB
Amazing, Unique Learning Opportunity

I thoroughly enjoyed the UBA program, and am so grateful to Nick and to my classmates for this experience. I'd always thought bees were cool and interesting, but didn't have any kind of background that would make this program a natural fit for me. However, my cousin had done the program last year and invited me to watch her honey extraction. I had so many questions that Nick was kind enough to answer, and each answer just generated more questions. I had been looking to pursue a new hobby and have always loved learning about science and nature, so I signed up thinking this would feel like an interactive yearlong podcast series. Best random decision ever! I've learned so much and have been enriched in so many ways. Could not recommend it enough!

C
C.L.
I learned so much and loved every minute

The UBA program was a hands on, thorough, and delightful education in all things beekeeping. The class itself came to demonstrate the macro-organism of the hive, as we all worked together to learn from all the hives in the colony. Nick was always accessible to answer questions and illustrate ideas with his personal experience of the craft. I met some really wonderful people and, while I feel confident I could get on my way with hives of my own, I’d do the course again and recommend it to anyone with an interest.

12

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