Beginner Beekeeping Mentorship — Hands-On Organic Beekeeping Experience | Lazy Acres Apiary

Learn to keep bees the right way — from someone who does it every day. Lazy Acres Apiary's 3-month Beginner Beekeeping Mentorship is a hands-on, in-person program designed for complete beginners who want to learn organic, chemical-free beekeeping on a working farm in Norwich, Ohio.

Every two weeks you'll join us at the hive for a private, guided session with Michael — six sessions total over three months, each one building on the last. Your own starter hive lives right here on the farm between visits, cared for daily as part of our working apiary. You get all the learning, the hands-on experience, and the joy of having your own colony — without the risk and uncertainty of going it alone from day one.

Mentorships begin in April or May, timed to the start of bee season when our hives are ready to split naturally. Your starter colony will be populated with bees from our own apiary — several generations into a mite-resistant genetics and breeding program. That's not something you can buy off a pallet. Most beginners start with package bees from unknown stock; you're starting with bees that have already proven themselves in this environment.

What you'll learn:

• How to safely open and inspect a hive

• Identifying a healthy queen, worker brood, and drone brood

• Spotting signs of a thriving colony vs. early warning signs

• How to read bee behavior and understand what the colony is telling you

• Natural, organic pest management — including Varroa mite monitoring and counting

• Recognizing swarming behavior and understanding why it happens

• Seasonal rhythms of a colony and how to support them naturally

• Equipment basics and how everything works together

• How to set up your own hives at home when you're ready

Month by month: Month One you'll learn to open and close the hive safely, identify the three castes, spot eggs and larvae, get comfortable with the smoker, and start developing your eye for what a healthy colony looks like. Month Two you'll conduct a full inspection independently, learn the Varroa mite lifecycle, perform your first mite count, and understand when and why to expand the hive. Month Three you'll lead your own full inspection with Michael observing, interpret a complete hive health assessment, and finish with a clear picture of what comes next.

What's included:

• 6 private, in-person hive sessions every two weeks, guided by seasoned beekeeper Michael

• Your own starter hive on the farm, populated with our locally bred, mite-resistant bees and folded into our regular apiary care between visits

• Extra sessions and hands-on guidance if any issues arise — so problems get caught and addressed early

• Your own copy of the Lazy Acres Beginner's Organic Beekeeping Workbook — custom written for this program, covering everything from bee biology and hive anatomy to organic pest management and seasonal care. A formal course and a hands-on experience rolled into one.

• Ongoing support between sessions — Michael is always reachable with questions

• Organic, chemical-free approach from start to finish

Stay with us and the rewards keep growing: Stick with us through fall and you'll have the opportunity to keep 50% of the honey your hive produces — raw, local, and organic honey you helped make. Stay on through the following spring, and if your hive is strong enough to split, those bees are yours to take home. With a full year of beekeeping under your belt, you're more than ready to start your own hive at home if you so choose — with less apprehension, more confidence, and a better chance of success than starting from scratch.

Investment: $375 for the full 3-month program Location: Norwich, Ohio · BeesKnowBest.com