Cart
PRE-REGISTER FOR FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP

The Community Hive Collaborative Purchase of Bees
OPEN NOW

  • Get the best Canadian bees to hobby or small-scale beekeepers
  • Make sure that those committed to offering the highest care to the bees receive them
  • The flow of education, mentorship, and community are supported by our participants

We have developed a system to ensure that these priorities occur in our Collaborative Purchase of honey bees annually. We are bringing in 300 nucleus colonies in 2021 and we are eager and excited to engage YOU and help you meet your beekeeping goals.

HOW IT WORKS?

STEP 1: Fill out the Application

YOU MUST TAKE THE EXAM NO MATTER WHAT. EVERY APPLICANT MUST TAKE THE EXAM, NO MATTER IF YOU HAVE IN PAST YEARS OR TAKEN A COURSE
You must receive over 80% on the exam for your application to be accepted. January 5- February 28, 2021

STEP 2: Take the quiz. The link will be emailed to you once you have filled out the application.

YOU CAN ONLY TAKE THE QUIZ TWICE, SO DON’T START UNTIL YOU ARE READY

STEP 3: Pay for invoice received the first weeks of March

Honey Bee Application and Exam Timeline

January 5- February 28th, 2021

CHCP Honeybee Exam and Application Completion Deadline
February 28 2021

CHCP Honey Bees Notification of Application
February 4th and March 8, 2021

Honey Bees Payment Deadline
2 weeks after you receive the invoice and no later than March 20th, 2021

Honey Bee Nucleus Distributions

Round 1 of Distribution:
2020 Overwintered Queens
Calgary Only – May 22, 2021

Round 2 of Distribution:
2021 BC Bred Queens
Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton-May 29-30, 2021

Fees for 2021

Honey Bee Nucs: $240
Wooden Nuc Box: $20
Transportation: $10
Management Fee*: $15
Total cost per nuc: $295

*The management fee includes the organization of BC and Alberta inspections by the provincial apiculture departments, as well as the permit for transport. You will receive the inspection reports from us before receipt of the bees!

About the Bees

This is our 13th year of the program and partnership with Bill. Since 2009 we have been bringing in honey bees from in Sweetacre Apiaries.  Bill Stagg has been beekeeping and producing queens and colonies of bees since 2005. Bill recently took over John Gates queen breeding operation and is expanding his queen production to 1000 queens this year. An innovative and responsible beekeeper, Bill provides quality nucleus colonies with Canadian reared and selected genetic stocks. Meet Bill in our video.

ABC Bees Collaborative Purchase Application

This is the application form for the ABC Bees 2021 We will be reviewing all applications and sending invoices two times. Early applicants are between January 4-31th, we will be sending results and invoices by Feb 6th. Late applicants from February 1- 28th we will be sending results and invoices by March 3.
  • Max 2 nucs per person UNLESS we have excess, then we will contact you if you would like more. So place your hopes, and we will contact you if more are available.

  • More information about you! Please fill out the following fields.

    Additional Information (not viewed during selection process, for ABC records and statistical tracking purposes:)
  • This should be your email you will use for communication and for Electronic Fund Transfer from your bank to eliese@abcbees.ca to pay for your bees if your application is approved. Password "Honeybee"
  • Be aware of the pick-up date and location
  • You don't need to have experience to become a mentor. Many hands make light work and another set of eyes makes for quicker learning.
  • We support youth participation in beekeeping. This information will reflect future youth educational opportunities with honey bees