The Central Ohio Beekeepers Association maintains two bee yards. One is located on The Ohio State University main campus in Columbus near the site of the Rothenbuhler Bee Lab. The second is located at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Both yards are used for educational purposes with two groups “Fun in the Bee Yard” for new beekeepers and “Masters in the Bee Yard” for more advanced individuals.
Held on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 beginning April 4, 2012, this is a beginners group made up of individuals that have completed the beekeeping school that want to continue to learn in a hand's on environment. The OSU bee yard is located on the Waterman Farm off of Lane Avenue and west of State Rt. 315. From Lane Ave. turn north on Carmark Road. The bee yard is located on the west side of the bee lab.
Masters is the Bee Yard will be moving its program for more advanced beekeepers to the Franklin Park Conservatory Apiary in late April 2012. This will allow the bees to take advantage of the wonderful grounds of Franklin Park. The Masters group will also assist COBA's beekeeper in the management of the Apiary for the park. The group will meet on Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, beginning May 5, 2012. The group will also participate in
COBA nuc project for the club and will meet as needed during the summer.
Association has engaged in a project to carry forward work already done in Ohio on a local scale to help raise northern queens that are more adapted to our environment. The project is led by EAS Master Beekeeper Dana Stahlman, a former commercial queen producer and founder of the Ohio Queen Project. COBA using his experience has developed a program in the COBA Bee Yard to carry on the breeding of outstanding local stock. Because no one individual can raise enough queens to evaluate each and every year, COBA under Dana's direction has developed a plan to graft, open mate, and release COBA raised queens to beekeepers in Central Ohio. Membership in COBA is not required to purchase one of the queens developed in the program.
COBA Bee School
COBA offers a class for new beekeepers each year in March. This has traditionally consisted of classes held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on four nights during the month of February and March. Additional classes may be scheduled as needed.
The classes are taught by competent beekeepers from COBA. The teachers represent individuals who have been recognized for outstanding success in beekeeping. It includes professional beekeepers, an EAS Master Beekeeper, Several who have been honored as Ohio Beekeepers of the Year, and one who has been recognized with the Ohio State Beekeepers Lifetime Achievement Award.
If you are interested in beekeeping and would like to enroll in a beekeeping class taught by COBA instructors, the course fee is $50.00 and includes a text book as well as membership in COBA for one year. Each additional family member must pay $10.00. Membership entitles a person to attend the additional classes offered thru-out the summer. There is no fee for the summer classes as all members are welcome to attend.
Watch our website for future available sign up opportunities!!
Franklin Park Conservatory Apiary
COBA also maintains the apiary for Franklin Park Conservatory. COBA is called upon from time to time to share its beekeeping knowledge with the public and to provide speakers for Franklin Park Conservatory events.
The Franklin Park Conservatory Apiary is open for viewing only during the regular business hours at 1777 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.
