Beekeeper Mentoring | Hands-on First Year w Experienced Beekeeper

This event is limited to people who have previously taken Bee 101 with us in the past

There's no better teacher than experience and hands-on for beekeeping. Unique and one of a kind opportunity to actually work the bees in actual bee hives for an entire year under the guidance of an experienced beekeeper. You will be learning how to use the tools, what you are looking for, tests for pests and have personal hands-on experience working in hives for an entire bee season. Fast track your learning through the mentorship of a UF Advanced Master Beekeeper.

Join us on the every 2 weeks on Saturday at 9am for an entire year, starting in April 2023 as our bee season begins with graduation following in March 2024 .

You and fellow new beekeepers will join us online for live Q&A every other Saturday morning, bee work will be uploaded via videos for you to join us virtually, rather than getting sweating and suiting up. We will partner up to take care of three 5-frame NUCs, grow them to 10-frame hives, do splits and re-queen as needed, harvest honey and all the tasks in between that may be needed for the year. Want a great head start into beekeeping and fine tune your techniques? REGISTER today!

LOCATION: Zoom online

WHEN: LIVE Q&A starts April 13th, 2023 and ends Apr 12th, 2024. Every 2 weeks on Saturday morning from 9-10a

AT EACH SESSION:

First, we will start with a quickie overview of the Best Management Practices for the month as well as you may be completing in your hives today

Then we will dive right in to Q&A, we’ll discuss your most recent hive inspection and any seasonally relevant info and what you should be doing in your hives.

You'll be submitting a hive inspection report prior to each session as part of your bee journal that you will be compiling through out the year

During the course of the year, We’ll observe, discuss and complete the following:

Identification of eggs, open brood, and capped brood
Brood patterns and what they mean to you as a beekeeper
Finding the queen
Honey and pollen stores and what they mean to you as a beekeeper
Pest identification
Pest testing & treatment
When to add/remove super boxes
Managing brood boxes
Gaps in the brood nest
Adding/removing supers
Harvesting honey

Have questions between sessions? or not sure what you see in your hives at your own apiary? We will be available between sessions for Q&A in a private WhatsApp Chat Group.

You will also receive a "Bee Journal" that you will add to each session with downloadable checklists and your hive reports as an invaluable resource for years going forward. This will guide you on what to do with your hives at your own apiary during the year and in the future

There will be a raffle for a NUC at the end of the year in March 2025.

This is a year long commitment with a limited number of seats, so if you feel you cannot attend most of the year, please allow the seat to be open for someone that can. As much as we would like 100% attendance, we understand that life happens. 80% attendance is required to successfully graduate and be entered in the hive drawing in March.

Participation Requirements each time you come for a mentoring session

Bring your own PPE (bee jacket or veil, gloves)
Bring your "Bee Journal" notebook (you will receive one at the first session)
Bring pen/pencil
Sign waiver of voluntary participation in an agricultural educational event
Wear appropriate farm/beekeeping attire (ball cap, long pants, long sleeves if PPE is a veil, closed toed shoes, and weather appropriate)
Hydrate before coming (start the evening before). We will provide plenty of water and shade.

Haven't taken Bee 101 with us?

Sign up for the Next Bee101 here This is a requirement to participate in the mentoring program, so we know everyone started with the same basics. If you register without being a prior student, your registration will be cancelled and refunded.

Have other Bee 101 experience?

Click here to fill out the application to see if you qualify. Please don't be upset if you don't...simply register for the next Become a Beekeeper Workshop and try to get in next year's mentorship program. We only have so many seats and those who have taken our Bee 101 will be given priority consideration throughout the registration period.

TERMS and CONDITIONS

Weather, Holidays and/or Farm emergencies may change the date of an upcoming mentoring session. We will do our best to reschedule these as soon as possible when possible. MakeUp sessions may or may not always be possible. We reserve the right to make these changes as needed and cancel sessions when necessary.
Signed waivers are required to participate in any farm educational activity involving bees.

REGISTRATION ends on Wednesday, Apr 5th at 11:30pm. REGISTER TODAY, so you don't miss out!

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Limited seats available. Register early

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