ABC Bees is training a new generation of hobby beekeepers, honey producers and queen rearers in small-scale, high intensity apiary management
Go for an authentic experience! For true beginners, bee enthusiasts, and bucket list holders, we run, find, and share fun, safe, and interactive opportunities to learn all about bees.
Escape your normal and connect with nature in a whole new way. Go on an excursion to the bee yard, to the meadow, and see what diversity is held in the tiny world of bees.
Eager to get out there and see what beekeeping is all about? To see beautiful pollinator gardens? Take native bee house building workshops? You’ll find all kinds of activities offered here. We want to support your learning and connection with nature. It is up to you to get out there!
“I loved learning from Eliese. Her knowledge is immense and I felt like I was being guided, especially when she would teach multiple options and then make recommendations based on her expertise. I appreciate that, despite her expertise, she was able to present information in a way that even us beginners could absorb it. She used simple terms and explained as she went. The building block & style of moving through the content made me feel really confident in her knowledge and presentation of it.”
– Former Student
Since 2010, we have trained thousands of aspiring and established beekeepers and honey producers on small-scale beekeeping and sustainable apiary management techniques. Widely acclaimed in the press and wildly popular among participants, our in-apiary workshops attracted interest from around the world and always sold out fast.
Unable to keep up with the demand for in-person events, we converted our beekeeping training into a convenient video-based format. Information we previously shared at our in-person workshops is now available via our Mini Courses and our comprehensive five-week ABC Bees Level One Beekeeping Certificate Online, so you can learn from ABC Bees no matter where you live.
ABC Bees Mini Courses feature 3-4 video tutorials that demonstrate some of the techniques we use to start, manage and raise healthy honey bees on a small scale. In our upcoming Winter Mini Course, you’ll learn how to select equipment for your apiary, decide how and what way you will purchase your first bees, plus how to select an apiary site for optimal honey production. ABC Bees Mini Courses are offered a few times each year and videos are available for a limited time only. Registration is free.
ABC Bees Level One Beekeeping Certificate is a five-week intensive online learning program focused on managing honey bees on a small scale. This course is offered only a few times per year and covers everything we’ve learned about raising honey bees and building a successful honey business with less than 100 colonies. The Level One Beekeeping Certificate includes 49+ video tutorials with all of our best management advice, time-saving tools, money-saving tips and detailed instructions on all the essential techniques for managing honey bees on a small scale.
“In 2014 I was fortunate to participate in an internship with Eliese, gaining hands-on beekeeping skills while helping to manage hives located throughout Calgary. Eliese is a compassionate and patient teacher and always professional in her dealings with others, Eliese has lead the urban beekeeping movement in Alberta while raising awareness of the importance of honey bees and other pollinators. Most importantly, Eliese is so much fun to hang out with! Thank you Eliese for introducing me to the bees. I can’t imagine life without them.”
“I first met Eliese when I took her beginning beekeeping class 9 years ago. I was impressed with her knowledge and how she made this very in-depth class interesting and fun. I have taken other classes from her over the years that have been very valuable to our urban beekeeping operation. Her enthusiasm for bee keeping is infections. She is kind, caring, hard working, plays a major roll in our bee keeping community and a strong supporter of local businesses.”