Les Crowder has devoted his entire adult life to the study and care of honeybees. He has kept bees in a variety of hives for nearly 40 years and has been experimenting with top bar hives since 1980. He has maintained a small honey and beeswax business for about 30 years and taught beekeeping for 25 years. As a toddler, Les was fascinated by insects. The first swarm of honeybees came to him in his early teens and he was transfixed. He became a teenage beekeeper, removing bees from homes to save them from the poison of the exterminator. He then worked with a large-scale commercial beekeeper, where he saw a type of beekeeping that seemed destructive to bees. This inspired Les to develop a beekeeping style that is inexpensive and completely chemical and treatment free. A leader in his community, Les has served as New Mexico’s Honeybee Inspector and president of the New Mexico Beekeepers Association. In 2009, he received the best instructor award at the NM Organic Farming conference.  He is well-beloved by students and colleagues alike for his love of bees and nature, his gentle teaching methods, and his generous spirit. For more information about Les, visit: fortheloveofbees.com.

For more information: 828.712.0880 debra@holybeepress.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

THE STATE OF THE HONEYBEE UNION
The Challenges Honeybees Are Facing and What We All Can Do To Help
7:00 – 9:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) Lenoir-Rhyne University Center for Graduate Studies
36 Montford Avenue, Asheville

Les Crowder is one of most esteemed and eloquent beekeepers and educators in the country. Please come hear Les talk about what is going on with the bees in these times, what his treatment-free honeybee stewardship choices have been over the years, some of the latest research about the effects of pesticides on bees, amphibians and people, and how we all can help the bees.  This talk is for everyone and anyone, not just beekeepers. If you are a bee appreciator, gardener, farmer, foodie, or a nature and life lover of any flavor, you will enjoy this opportunity to hear one of the great advocates for honeybees speak in Asheville.  This event is sponsored by the Lenoir-Rhyne Living Room Series.

Suggested Donation: $10 – $15 (pay at door)

NOTE ABOUT DIRECTIONS:  Lenoir-Rhyne Unversity is located on the second floor of the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Lenoir’s signage on that building is not easy to see so please look for the signs (and set your GPS) for the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau.  There is plenty of parking behind the center. Once you enter the building, take the elevator to the second floor.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2013

INTRODUCTION TO TOPBAR BEEKEEPING & ORGANIC PRACTICES FOR HONEYBEE HEALTH  
9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Green Hill Urban Farm
30 Green Hill Ave, West Asheville

This workshop is for people brand new to beekeeping, with an interest in topbar. We will spend Saturday together at Green Hill Urban Farm, learning about topbar basics from Les.  A thriving topbar hive will be close at hand, in the garden, for Les to also demonstrate some hands-on topbar basics with the bees.  Hearing Les speak and being in his classes is an experience in learning to love and respect honeybees … and helps set students on a path of strong ethical commitment and stewardship of these amazing insects.

COST:
EARLY BIRD: $65 (ends July 18)
REGULAR BIRD: $75 (ends July 31)
(Both prices include a Green Hill Urban Farm-fresh lunch.)

TO REGISTER

Visit:  BrownPaperTickets
ALL REGISTRATION, DIRECTIONS & WORKSHOP INFORMATION is on this Brown Paper Tickets site.  If you prefer to pay by check, please call Debra Roberts at 828.712.0880. Class is limited to 50 participants and we anticipate this workshop selling out, so please register as soon as possible.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

TOPBAR BEEKEEPING BASICS FOR BEEKEEPERS WITH EXPERIENCE
12:30 – 5:00 pm
Green Hill Urban Farm
30 Green Hill Ave, West Asheville

This workshop is for beekeepers who have a little or a lot of Langstroth hive beekeeping experience, who are familiar with bee basics and language, and either have some topbar experience or think they might like to explore topbar beekeeping in the future.  We will spend Sunday afternoon together at Green Hill Urban Farm, learning about topbar basics from Les.  A thriving topbar hive will be close at hand, in the garden, for Les to also demonstrate some hands-on topbar basics with the bees.  This session is intended to be tailor-made for our more experienced community – so bring your topbar questions in abundance.

COST:  $35 (includes an afternoon libation)

TO REGISTER

Visit:  BrownPaperTickets
ALL REGISTRATION, DIRECTIONS & WORKSHOP INFORMATION is on this Brown Paper Tickets site.  If you prefer to pay by check, please call Debra Roberts at 828.712.0880. Class is limited to 50 participants and we anticipate this workshop selling out, so please register as soon as possible.