Over the years I watched video after video and devoured all the books I could get my hands on. Finally, eleven years and two children later, I registered for the "Beekeeping for the Hobbyist" course at the University of Manitoba. The course was filled with great information and my passion grew, but I didn’t feel ready to manage my own hives afterwards.
That spring of 2015, I became a member of the Red River Apiarists’ Association and connected with the best mentor on the planet, Ted Scheuneman. I thank my lucky stars that he took me under his wing to pass along his knowledge of bees. I agree 100% with his philosophy, “You have to think like a bee. It is our job as beekeepers to figure out what the bees intend to do and then help them get it done.” His teachings are far more detailed, but that is his basic rule of thumb. I consider him a brilliant bee engineer and it has been a privilege and honour to learn from someone so wise and kind who genuinely cares about the life of each and every bee.
Since then I’ve learned about bees in Guatemala, India, Mexico, the United States and across Canada. I’ve taken courses, watched videos, joined webinars, studied research papers and absorbed just about anything I could find about the fascinating world of honey bees.
Most recently, I completed the Master Beekeeping program at Cornell University — an 18-month series of modules with courses including Evolution, Biology & Behaviour, Science & Art of Beekeeping, Managing Pests & Diseases and the Rewards & Contributions of Beekeeping. I feel better equipped with new concepts and a greater knowledge of best management practices. I have gained a deeper understanding of honey bees as living organisms and am able to navigate controversial topics in the beekeeping community. The best part is that I have the tools and resources to better educate new beekeepers and share my learnings with others.
I bought my first two nucs (five frame hives) of Carniolan bees from Ted and started managing Evangeline and Ramona’s hives the spring of 2016. During the season, I dealt with a split (resulting in Adeline’s hive), laying workers and many other challenges that Ted helped me find my way through. I ended the season with 25 lbs of honey and went into winter with three hives!
I continued to learn from Ted until he passed away November 2019. He is still with me in the bee yard, I often hear his voice, with his strong german accent, as I am mulling over options in the hives.
I now rely on my growing community of beekeepers when I'm faced with issues in my colonies and not sure of an immediate solution. This world of bees is complicated and it's wonderful to bounce ideas off each other before making a final decision — working together, just like the bees!
My bee seasons continue to be filled with learning opportunities, frustrations, joy and growth. I relate to Albert Einstein’s words, “The more I know, the more I realize how much I don’t know!”
I am thrilled with the growth and success of this small farming venture and am excited for my next steps. I am currently taking what I have learned from the Cornell Master Beekeeping program and creating new workshops and presentations. I can't wait to pass my knowledge on to others and hope to expand in this area in the years to come.
I LOVE sharing about honey bees with the kids at school presentations. I ALWAYS leave feeling inspired by these brilliant little minds – I love watching their faces as they soak it all in. They ask such intelligent questions, show passion and always want to know how they can help. I believe our future is in good hands with the coming generations.
All in all, there is nothing more satisfying than watching my bees on a warm summer morning with a coffee in hand and my kids by my side.
I often reflect on that book my mom gave me, so full of hints for life and love, and somehow, through this all, she is part of my world of bees.