Building a Youth Beekeeping Program

Jennica SkougGoodman Youth Farm Manager

jennica@communitygroundworks.orgwww.communitygroundworks.org

Goodman Youth FarmBenefits of beesSafety at the hiveInvolving studentsEntrepreneurship with beesHive managementEquipment & costQuestions

Webinar Outline

Goodman Youth Farm: Background

Half acre of vegetablesOutdoor kitchen areaCommunity gardensSmall orchardSmall restored prairieBeehives

Land: 3 acres

Madison school districtGoodman Community CenterGoodman Foundation: funding

Partners

Single visit field tripsSchools After school programsCommunity groups

Recurring programsGarden Fit: middle schoolSeed to Table: high schoolGrow Academy: juvenile corrections

April to October, 2014:3,300 duplicated visits

Programs

LocationNext to prairieIn sight of gardens and orchard

One (or two) hivesDepends on success of prior year

Hive namesBev and Bevita

Beehives

Benefits of bees for students

Insect life cyclesInsect behavior Insect anatomyWinter survivalPollination Environmental issues

Hands-on biology

“I don’t usually like bees, but I like them on the farm!”

“I was scared of the bees, but I went over to them anyway. I’m proud of myself.”

“Now that I know the bees, I never want to leave them. This is the calmest I’ve ever been in my life. I have to tell my mom!”

Confronting fear

Creating calm

Safety at the hive

Large group (10+)Observe hive from a distanceLine with flags or string (30-40 ft)Discuss role of bees in gardenWhat to do if you see a bee!

Small group (1-10)May visit hive up closeRequires gear and instructions5 students ideal for hands-on

Group Size

HelmetsGlovesPants tucked into socksClose toed shoesBee suit, or…Large collared dress shirtBaggy “scrub” pantsRubber bands for wrists

Check student gear before approaching the hive.

Protective gear

AllergiesMajor: Epi-Pen Minor: Anti-itch cream, sting-relief

Anticipate student behaviorDiscuss the experience in advancePlace students strategicallyAllow students an “out”

Know your students

Stay calmBees will respond to your emotions

Move slowlyHow do you react when surprised?

Mentally prepare for stingsBees don’t “want” to stingThey sting only if threatenedHow the smoker will helpDescribe what it feels likeDescribe what to do: walk away.

Behavior instruction

Students choose their distance and level of involvement.

Zone 1: Ten foot arcHave all students start here.

Zone 2: Next to hiveWatch, but don’t touch.

Zone 3: Assist with tasksInvite students to help you, or do a task on their own. Start small!

Remind students: you can always walk away.

Comfort zones

Involving Students

All groups:Observation & questionsDiscuss importance of beesDiscuss threats to bees

Larger groups:Demonstration by beekeeperTry on beekeeper outfit (K-3)Honey extraction (Late summer)

Smaller groups:Hands-on at the hive – activities depend on behavior and comfort level of group

One-time visits

Small groups are best

Progressive hive tasks:Stand next to hiveUse smokerLook for eggs Hold a frameHelp lift a boxUse hive toolHoney harvest (brush bees)Teach others

Away from the hive:Planning for bees, recordkeepingBee productsBee-related cookingDiscuss pollinator threats, etc.

Recurring visits

Observing the hive Using the smoker Holding a frame

Lifting a box (use partners) Using the hive tool Getting comfortable with bees!

JanuaryOrder package bees

AprilInstall package bees

May-AugustWeekly inspectionsswarm preventionsplit hive as necessary

AugustHoney harvest (if applicable)

SeptemberMite treatment

October-November Winterization

Note: may differ by climate!

The beekeeping year

Entrepreneurship with bees

Student involvementUncappingExtractingBottling & filteringLabel makingSelling…and tasting!

Cost and profitInput cost: <$1/bottleSale price: $7-$10/bottle

Honey

Uncapping

Cost and profitInputs: Bottles, labelsNet profit: $7-$9/bottle

Student involvementExtractionBottlingLabel makingSelling

Extracting

Filtering

Cost and profitInputs: Bottles, labelsNet profit: $7-$9/bottle

Student involvementExtractionBottlingLabel makingSelling

Honey

Bottling

Cost and profitInputs: Bottles, labelsNet profit: $7-$9/bottle

Student involvementExtractionBottlingLabel makingSelling

Honey

Label Making

Student involvementCollecting wax – 2 waysRendering waxChopping and melting waxFilling containersMaking labelsSelling

Cost and profitInput cost: $1 per tinSale price: $3-$5 per tin

Lip Balm

Discussion TopicsHow and why bees make waxOther beeswax productsHealth benefits of beeswaxInput costs, sale price, and net profit

Lip Balm Ingredients Chopped beeswaxOlive oilHoneyVitamin E capsulesEssential oils (optional)

Hive Management

Lead beekeeper Assistant or internBee advisor

Or, partner with a local beekeeper to manage the hive on your property.

Your Bee Team

ClassesBooksLocal beekeeping associationApprentice with beekeeper

Learning from scratch

http://www.littlehouseonthebighill.com/beekeeping/images/inspectionsheets/hiveinspection20130827.pdf

Record KeepingFill out one hive record sheet after each visit to the hive.

Make notes about what to do next week.

Before each hive inspection, look at your last record so you know what to do.

http://www.littlehouseonthebighill.com/beekeeping/images/inspectionsheets/hiveinspection20130827.pdf

Record KeepingMake a visual map of the hive: what you observed and what you did.

Equipment and Costs

Boxes (7-10 for full hive) Frames (10 per box) Inner Cover

Outer Cover Bottom Board Queen excluder

Hive set up

Hive set-upBrood chamber: 1-3 deep boxes or 2-4 medium boxesHoney supers: 0-4 medium boxes

Smoker (and fuel) Brushes

Spacer (optional) Feeder bucket Cinder blocks

Hive tools (2-3)

Beekeeping tools

Package bees (3lb)

Insulated cover Entrance reducer

Mouse protectionTar paper

Winterization

Mite treatment (early fall)

Items Approximate Cost

Hive set up (one hive, assembled) $400

Beekeeping tools $80

Protective gear (5 sets, low cost) $200

Extraction equipment Borrow (free)

Winterization $55

Package Bees $100

TOTAL COST $835

Initial costs

GrantsEquipment donation

Partnership with beekeeper

Covering costs

Student interview on community radio station, after a summer with the bees: http://www.wortfm.org/goodman-youth-farm/

Confidence

LeadershipVideo: Middle school students show visiting kindergarteners the bees. One student wants to tell the president.

Questions

Jennica SkougGoodman Youth Farm Manager

jennica@communitygroundworks.orgwww.communitygroundworks.org