Institute of Urban Homesteading
Newsletter
November 2014

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Noble November
It's official, climate change is for reals. Narcissus and peach are blooming in my yard at the moment, the fig tree is leafing out and the magnolia is flowering 3 months early. Rain plus heat and all the plants think we've had an extra cycle round the sun....let's hope for cold and rain to turn this back around! We are starting to wind down for the season here at the Institute in hopes of winter restfulness. .We have but a few fantabulous classes left for you in November, our most wonderful open house in December and then a short selection of winter classes for our winter session January-March. 2015 will be a year of change for us here, cliff notes below.


narcissus in november ~ Pile of tamales awaiting ~ handmade soap class ~ blondie hatches a chick

Accepting Class Proposals & Internship Applications
Teaching at IUH Proposals accepted through January 15 Click link for details
3 Springs Internship details application Applications accepted through February 15

2015 Api-centric Beekeeping Mentorship
Learn to be a beekeeper and steward your own sweet colony!
Honeybees are complex and fascinating creatures and the tending of them brings both great joy and great consternation. Beekeepers are fond of complaining how the bees don't seem to read the popular beekeeping texts, but instead do their own thing to the confoundment of the beekeeper. Beekeeping itself is a highly bioregional actvity that may only be learned from books as a general practice--specifics must be learned and practiced locally through observation and comparison with other hives, other years and local beekeepers. Having support of peers and mentors in your first years is vital.

This mentorship is intended to guide you through your first year of beekeeping, however anyone in their first 3 years may apply. We will focus on apicentric beekeeping methods and alternative hive systems, both of which promote the health and well being of the honey bee over priority of honey extraction. The mentorship includes attendance at Intro to Backyard Beekeeping classes and Beyond the Basics Bees ,2-3 private practice sessions with our bees and your bees, emergency house calls when things go terribly wrong and unlimited phone and email support. It is ideal to begin the mentorship close to the start of the calendar year as is it then possible to support though a complete honeybee season, from the acquisition of your bees and box in early spring through honey harvest and overwintering strategies in the Fall. Sliding scale $500-750 for the year. You must purchase/provde your own box , bees and equipment , we are glad to support you to do this as part of the mentorship.

Winter Open House 2014 ~ Tasting, Social & Sale
Mark Your calendar! Saturday and Sunday December13-14 noon-4pm each day Straggler Sales TBA
FREE and open to the Public, Please use our contact form to have directions sent to you.
Join the party! Our year-end event is a celebration of the bounty. There will be tasting (homemade jam,mustard, cheese, wine and more), convivial people and shopping! Who could ask for more? Lots of cool handmade goodies and treats starting as low as $1. Come grab your stocking stuffers, Secret Santas and private stash. Enjoy the cheer and support the local economy. Win-win happy joy!

Winter Session Online
We have posted the classes to our calendar but not yet updated our class description pages. Completed schedule and updates will be available December 1.

Looking to 2015
Winter Session: January 15-March 15
Spring Session March 28-June 14
Sabbatical June 15 - September 30 IUH Oakland on break
Summer 2015: Institute North A smattering of juicy land-based intensive courses in Northern California
Urban Farm Tours Oakland June 6-7 In the Works and TBA: Vallejo, Concord/Walnut Creek, Napa, Hayward, Sanra Rosa
Harvest Session October 3 - November 15
Winter Open House December 12 & 13

gold finches enjoying harvest season

as the season turns gently