As a successful beekeeper since 2005, managing about twenty of my own hives every year, I will share sound hive management principles, equipment recommendations and essential bee biology insights that will help you build the skills and confidence needed to keep bees sustainably year after year without buying inferior out-of-state bees every spring to replace unnecessary winter losses.
My long-term goal is to help build a strong, local, well informed beekeeping community. Locally produced bees have been shown to be superior in many ways. We can drastically limit annual colony losses by following modern, fact-based beekeeping principles. By producing our own queens and bees, we will gradually produce a “Whatcom County Bee” that is acclimatized to our local, maritime conditions.
A recent “Whatcom Talk” article about me.
My Bee Background:
- “The Art of Queen Rearing” – 2007 Three day queen rearing workshop with Sue Cobey at The Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility, University of California – Davis
- WSBA Apprentice Beekeeper Certificate – 2010
- Bee Master Certificate – 2012 The week-long Bee Master course is the oldest advanced beekeeping course in North America. Intended for beekeepers with extensive experience who wish to learn more about apiculture research and science. University of British Columbia and BC Provincial Apiculture Department.
- WSBA Journeyman Beekeeper Certificate – 2015
- “School of Hands-On Beekeeping” 2005-Today Curriculum: lots of hot, cold, sunny, rainy days working in apiaries all over Whatcom County. I’m blessed with having met and worked with many experienced, veteran beekeepers in our area. They have generously shared their beekeeping skills, insights and secrets with me over the years. Thanks Guys! – Dean of Students: Michael Jaross
Read more about the services I offer
