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Black Beekeeper Mentoring Program

The face of beekeeping is often not associated with Black bodies. Black beekeepers are a small population in the United States, and much of our presence and history has been erased. 

 

As more Black people gain interest in beekeeping, many are without the proper support needed to achieve sustainable apiaries that are able to provide for their communities and livelihoods. 

Mentoring Model

New beekeepers will be paired with a Black beekeeper in relatively close geographical proximity to them, who can support them as they put their beekeeping education into praxis. This mentoring program will also have a cohort model to allow the beekeepers to be in community with each other. The cohort model will meet biweekly May to August. Then quarterly in fall, winter, and one last session in spring. The first cohort will be able to accept 10-15 new beekeepers.

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Mentee Requirements

  • 18 years old or older.

  • First year working with a hive.

  • Everyone who is in the program needs to have taken a beekeeping course or be currently enrolled in a course. 

  • Committed to sustainable beekeeping (note: this may mean that you do not get honey in your first year of honey)

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Mentor Requirements

  • Must be over 21 years of age. 

  • At least a third year beekeeper. 

  • Committed to sustainable beekeeping practices. 

  • Can commit to seeing a beekeeper through an entire year of beekeeping (for example: April 2023-May 2024)

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What funding would support? 

  • Recruitment and selection of mentors and mentees, as well as the administrative tasks needed to plan the year

  • Stipend for speakers 

  • Stipend for mentors

  • Teleconferencing platform

  • Gift for mentees (i.e. beekeeping journal for hive checks)

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Have you seen the Honey Book?

Check out our latest resource to help people connect with Black beekeepers who are selling honey. Check out this resource!

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