As a successful beekeeper for 20 years, managing 10-20 hives every year, I’ve never had to buy bees or queens to replace losses. Sustainable beekeeping is my goal, so I make all the bees and queens I need every year with plenty extra for sale to fund my hobby. I do my best to share sound hive management principles, equipment recommendations and essential bee biology with my local beekeeper colleagues. My consulting and classes help new beekeepers 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 offer better outcomes 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 Lab, UC-Davis
- WASBA 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.
- WASBA 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. I do my best to return the favor. A big thanks to my mentors!
- Dean of Students: Michael Jaross
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