Nearly everything I was told when I started came from books, videos and forums, and most of it was written for somewhere that isn't here. What actually taught me was time in hives with people who'd done it, and being able to ask "what am I looking at?" while looking at it.
That's what this is. Not a classroom. A hive, open, with you doing the work and me next to you.
Who it's for
- Thinking about it. You like the idea and want to find out what it actually involves before spending money on equipment. An afternoon in a hive answers that better than any amount of reading.
- First year. You have bees, you're doing your best, and you're not always sure what you're seeing or whether it's a problem. This is the most common one, and it's normal.
- Stuck on something specific. You can't find the queen, you're not confident on mite washes, you've never done a split and don't want your first attempt to be alone.
- Coming back to it. You kept bees years ago and things have changed. Varroa management in particular is not what it was.
What we actually do
Shaped around what you need, but the things most people want to get solid on:
- Reading a frame. Eggs, larvae, capped brood, stores, pollen. What a good pattern looks like and what a worrying one looks like, side by side in the same hive.
- Finding the queen, and just as usefully, knowing you're queenright without finding her.
- Handling. Smoker, hive tool, how to move so the colony stays calm. Most defensive behaviour is a response to how we're working.
- Varroa. Doing a proper wash, reading the number, and deciding what to do about it. The single most important skill in modern beekeeping and the one most often skipped.
- Swarm signs, and what to do when you see them.
- Seasonal judgement. What this colony needs this month, on this coast, rather than in a generic calendar.
Your hives or mine
If you have bees, we work in yours. That's better, because the questions are about your colonies and you'll be more confident in your own apiary afterwards.
If you don't have bees yet, we work in mine. You get to open a hive, hold a frame, and find out whether you enjoy it before committing to a season of it. Some people discover they love it. A few discover they don't, which is a genuinely useful thing to learn for the price of an afternoon rather than the price of a hive.
If you're planning for next spring
The timing catches people out. Bees are ordered in January for spring delivery, and local stock sells out. So the useful sequence is: learn in autumn or winter, decide whether it's for you, get set up over the quiet months, and have the bees arrive into a hive that's already in the right place.
Starting that in March means doing everything at once, which is how first years go badly. If you're reading this in the autumn, you're ahead.
Pairs naturally with hive setup and consultation if you decide to go ahead.
How I teach
I'd rather you didn't need me. The point is that you come away able to make the call yourself, not that you ring me every time something looks odd. I'll tell you when I'm unsure, and I'll tell you when the honest answer is "nobody knows, watch it for a fortnight".
I'm training through the UC Davis California Master Beekeeper Program, and I keep my own bees here on the South Coast. Everything I teach is something I do.
Frequently asked questions
I don't have bees yet. Is that a problem?
Not at all, and honestly it's the best time to come. We'll work in my hives and you'll find out what you're getting into before you buy anything.
Do I need my own suit?
No, I'll have gear for you. If you're planning to keep bees you'll want your own eventually, and we can talk about what's worth buying.
How many sessions do people usually do?
Varies a lot. Some people want one afternoon to answer a specific question. Others like a check-in through their first season, which is roughly monthly. There's no package you have to sign up for.
I'm nervous around bees. Is that normal?
Completely, and it doesn't disqualify you. Most of it goes in the first hour once you see how a calm colony behaves when it's handled properly. If it doesn't, that's worth knowing too.
Can kids take part?
Yes, with a parent there and the right gear. Get in touch and tell me their age and we'll work out whether it's a good fit.
Is this the same as the Master Beekeeper course?
No. That's a UC Davis program with its own curriculum and exams, and I'm a student in it, not an instructor for it. This is practical one-to-one help with your bees.
What areas do you serve?
Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Carpinteria, Isla Vista and the surrounding South Coast.