COURSE DESCRIPTION
Beekeeping, a craft practiced for thousands of years, is relevant now more than ever. In becoming a Bee Guardian, you are not only learning the art of working with bees, but in doing so inherently become connected to the seasons, environment, and in essence see the world differently. In aligning yourself with the bees and their perspectives, your understanding of complex systems becomes easier, and the understanding that “everything is connected” becomes crystal clear. Because bees are a keystone species, we see their impact and importance in the environment in many aspects. Their classification as a “superorganism” teaches us many concepts of biology and is also applicable to how humans could live and interact with one another.
Working with bees is not just about honey, but finding a way in which we can connect to something greater. Bees teach us how to slow down, how to listen, to observe, and be in integrity. Truly great teachers, working with bees will equate to a lifetime of learning once you embark on this path. Now more than ever, we need more people living life in harmony with the environment and community, so much of this we can learn from these beings.
The Online Bee Guardian Apprenticeship is equipped with the knowledge and tools you’ll need to begin your journey with bees with confidence. Whether you want one hive, or many, this course contains a well rounded curriculum to prepare you for this amazing journey. In becoming a Bee Guardian you also become an earth activist, a pollinator advocate, and more connected to self.
Anna Maria’s personal ethics towards beekeeping are rooted in Natural and Treatment free methods. Thus, this course will follow that protocol. The Bee Guardian practices move away from chemical treatments, genetic manipulations, and commercial scale beekeeping. Instead, we focus on healing colonies through nature’s intelligence and ideally breaking a dependence on artificial manipulations.
Working with bees is not just about honey, but finding a way in which we can connect to something greater. Bees teach us how to slow down, how to listen, to observe, and be in integrity. Truly great teachers, working with bees will equate to a lifetime of learning once you embark on this path. Now more than ever, we need more people living life in harmony with the environment and community, so much of this we can learn from these beings.
The Online Bee Guardian Apprenticeship is equipped with the knowledge and tools you’ll need to begin your journey with bees with confidence. Whether you want one hive, or many, this course contains a well rounded curriculum to prepare you for this amazing journey. In becoming a Bee Guardian you also become an earth activist, a pollinator advocate, and more connected to self.
Anna Maria’s personal ethics towards beekeeping are rooted in Natural and Treatment free methods. Thus, this course will follow that protocol. The Bee Guardian practices move away from chemical treatments, genetic manipulations, and commercial scale beekeeping. Instead, we focus on healing colonies through nature’s intelligence and ideally breaking a dependence on artificial manipulations.
COURSE DETAILS
This course is designed for individuals who are ready to embark on a beekeeping journey. We spend 7 months together learning the ins and outs of natural and treatment free beekeeping, from how to get your bees to the maintenance that will be needed. The beauty of this course is that the schedule follows the flow of beekeeping activities throughout the year.
If you are still unsure of what beekeeping entails or want to know more about what natural beekeeping is, you can join us for our two winter mini courses: Introduction to the Honeybee and Introduction to Natural Beekeeping.
The course curriculum includes, and is not limited to:
This course is designed for individuals who are ready to embark on a beekeeping journey. We spend 7 months together learning the ins and outs of natural and treatment free beekeeping, from how to get your bees to the maintenance that will be needed. The beauty of this course is that the schedule follows the flow of beekeeping activities throughout the year.
If you are still unsure of what beekeeping entails or want to know more about what natural beekeeping is, you can join us for our two winter mini courses: Introduction to the Honeybee and Introduction to Natural Beekeeping.
The course curriculum includes, and is not limited to:
- History: folklore, traditions, and mythology
- Basics: biology, terminology, swarm captures/lures, equipment and tools, different hive designs
- Starting a Hive: Selecting and preparing your apiary site, installing a new hive, honeybee roles, duties, internal hive life cycle
- Hive Maintenance: Performing inspections with care, healthy hive indicators, record keeping, seasonal tasks and duties, bee teas
- Honey and beeswax: When to responsibly harvest honey, how to harvest/package, rendering wax, creating value added products
- Activism and environment: Researching local city restrictions, beekeepers clubs, pollinator garden design, habitat restoration, native bee hotels, tree hives
- Advanced techniques: Splitting hives, identifying disease, to feed or not?, varroa treatment options
- Monthly zoom calls with Bee Guardian graduates for further learning, sharing, and activation
- Access to one on one consulting with your instructor (Anna Maria) for any troubleshooting indefinitely
COURSE SCHEDULE
Sessions will be held between March 23rd and September 18th:
Sessions will be held between March 23rd and September 18th:
- First Tuesday of each month 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PST on ZOOM (besides March)
- Third Saturday of each month 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PST on Zoom (besides March)
- Virtual 2 hour sessions with time afterwards for additional Q&A and discussions
- Accompanying resources, such as pdf, video and our own ebooks for each class with homework and reading assignments
- Available class recordings
- Discounts for future courses or one on one mentorship opportunities (discount code given at end of course)
- In person regional meet ups for hive inspections and hands on learning
- Opportunities to shadow instructor or past graduates in bee removals and rescues
COURSE LOCATION
We love hosting these classes in person, however to make this accessible to as many as possible we’re hosting online via ZOOM. You can join via video on your computer, laptop, tablet, or phone. For a great course experience, we recommend using a 10 inch screen or bigger, such as a tablet or laptop. Enjoy learning from your own home. As mentioned, if you cannot attend a live session, recordings will be sent for your to review at your convenience.
We love hosting these classes in person, however to make this accessible to as many as possible we’re hosting online via ZOOM. You can join via video on your computer, laptop, tablet, or phone. For a great course experience, we recommend using a 10 inch screen or bigger, such as a tablet or laptop. Enjoy learning from your own home. As mentioned, if you cannot attend a live session, recordings will be sent for your to review at your convenience.
COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Anna Maria Desipris
Anna Maria Desipris
- Anna Maria is a bee guardian, herbalist, farmer, permaculture consultant and educator with 10 years of professional experience in the realm of sustainability, beekeeping, urban farming and community building around the farm to table movement.
- She has been rescuing and relocating beehives to safe locations since 2011 and now shares with others this craft in her Bee Guardian Apprenticeship. She has also spent many years in work around local food systems, gathering over 1000 key individuals around community tables and supporting local regenerative farmers and chefs.
- As an educator she has led over 100 workshops, lectures and courses on topics from the realms of beekeeping, urban farming and regenerative food systems.
- As a farmer she has been a key designer, planner and manager of multiple neighborhood farms and farming based educational spaces in Reno, Nevada and Orange County, California.
- Anna Maria is also a college professor, co-director of About And For Sustainability, the founder of The Honey Bee Hub, Bee Botanicals and co-founder of Bloom Farms (Desert Bloom and Midwest Bloom).
- She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Reno and an array of certifications in Permaculture, Master Beekeeping and Herbalism.
COURSE COSTS & REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MARCH 4TH 2021
A $400 deposit must be paid to be registered in the course.
Full cost must be paid by March 4th 2021, unless otherwise arranged with course coordinators.
Please read refund policies below on this page.
20 years of age or older
We provide payment plans and scholarships for those that need them!
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MARCH 4TH 2021
A $400 deposit must be paid to be registered in the course.
Full cost must be paid by March 4th 2021, unless otherwise arranged with course coordinators.
Please read refund policies below on this page.
20 years of age or older
- $800 Adult
- $700 Youth
We provide payment plans and scholarships for those that need them!
- Payment plans - we offer up to 3 months payment plans - full course cost must be paid in full 10 days prior to course
- IF YOU NEED A PAYMENT PLAN, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US VIA EMAIL
- Scholarships - we offer one $200, one $400, and one full course cost scholarships
- All payment plans and scholarships apply to the full course cost
CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
info@aboutandforsustainability.com
info@aboutandforsustainability.com
A MESSAGE FROM ANNA MARIA
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
What to bring at each online session:
What to bring at each online session:
- your preferred technology to take notes (including pen and paper)
- A portion of your payment will be used to sponsor scholarships for individuals, who would otherwise not afford it, and who will positively impact our shared environment and community with the knowledge and skills gained in this course.
- A portion of your payment will support the work of our instructors and the development of the Bloom Farms, and other eco-educational hubs around the world.
- AS LONG AS YOU NOTIFY US VIA EMAIL AT LEAST 20 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE COURSE, WE WILL REFUND THE AMOUNT WE RECEIVED FROM YOU TO THAT DATE, MINUS A $100 PROCESSING FEE. Alternatively we can credit the full amount towards a future course. If you notify us of your need to cancel within 20 days of course commencement, your payment is not refundable. However, you can transfer your ticket to another name for that same course or join a later course.
- Some filming and picture taking will occur throughout the course. By registering to participate in this course you agree to our "Video, Pictures, Release of Liability and Cancellation Agreement" found in the registration form.