Matthew Orwat
County Extension Agent – AG/NR
Email: matthew.orwat@ag.tamu.edu
Agriculture enthusiasts from Dallas County and surrounding areas, including Kaufman, Collin, and Parker counties, explored the fundamentals of urban beekeeping through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Dallas County’s five-part Beekeeping Basics series. Designed specifically for beginners, this engaging, hands-on program provided all the essentials needed to start a beekeeping journey in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, a trusted source for research-based knowledge, delivered practical instruction to spark interest and build skills in urban beekeeping.
The goal of the series was straightforward: to inspire and educate residents interested in starting their own urban beekeeping operations. An average of 25 participants received hands-on instruction from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agents Matthew Orwat and Anne LeSenne, along with beekeeping specialist Omar Martinez, covering a range of foundational beekeeping topics.
Session Highlights
Beekeeping in Urban Areas
The first session focused on keeping bees in city environments. Participants learned about urban-specific considerations, including city ordinances, neighbor relations, hive placement, fencing, water sources, and agricultural exemptions.
Honeybee Biology
This session explored the science of honeybees and their behavior. Participants discovered the lifecycle of bees—from egg to worker, drone, and queen—and the distinct roles worker bees take on as they mature. They also learned about drone mating flights, the unique development of queens despite genetic similarity to workers, and hive products such as honey, propolis, bee bread, and royal jelly. A strong emphasis was placed on managing varroa mites in the hive.
Beekeeping Equipment
Participants gained hands-on experience with beekeeping tools, exploring various hive types, from traditional Langstroth hives to modern Flow Hive models. The session included demonstrations on honey extraction and smoker lighting, as well as explanations of brood boxes, honey supers, nucs, packages, queen excluders, and frame manipulation.
Plants and Pollinators
This session highlighted the critical role bees play in pollination and introduced participants to the diverse honey and pollen plants found in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during spring, summer, and fall.
Live in the Hive
Participants donned bee suits for an up-close look at the inner workings of a hive. Horticulture Agent Anne LeSenne demonstrated the hive’s caste system, showcasing brood cells, honey cells, drones, and the queen. The session covered the process of smoking bees to mask pheromones and how to interpret hive tone to detect changes in temperament. This live hive demonstration provided a rare and essential learning experience for beginners.
Program Impact
This series offered a unique opportunity to learn from Extension agents and specialists in a beginner-friendly environment. By providing a comprehensive introduction to urban beekeeping, the program laid a solid foundation for participants to build future knowledge and confidence in their beekeeping endeavors and a new local community of potential beekeepers to support each other in skill development.
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