Time
An hour or two a week through the season is plenty for a hive or two. The bees do the work — your job is to watch, learn and lend a hand at the right moments.
All ages welcome
Start Beekeeping
Curious about bees? You are welcome here — children, teens, adults and lifelong learners. You do not need a hive or any experience. Learn online, explore The Field Journal, or join Mark beside the bees in the Okanagan–Similkameen–Princeton region.
Explore The Field JournalWhen you are ready for your own hive
What it really takes
You can enjoy learning about bees without keeping them. If you decide to care for a hive, these are four things worth thinking about before you begin.
Space
A backyard, a balcony-minded corner or a friendly farmer's field all work. Check your local rules first, and be a good neighbour — calm bees start with a calm beekeeper.
Money
Plan on a few hundred dollars for your first hive, bees and basic gear. You do not need everything the catalogues sell. Start simple; add as you learn.
Stings
Yes, sometimes. You learn to move slowly, read the bees' mood and work with the weather. Most beginners find the fear fades faster than they expected.
Choose what suits you
Learn with Mark
Online at your own pace, hands-on at the apiary, or in your classroom. Workshops are 2 hours — $25 youth, $35 adults, $75 for a family.
Free · Ages 5–18
Learn online
Short bee lessons, simple quizzes and printable badges. Learn at home or together in class. A parent or teacher holds the account; children do not need their own login.
Choose your child’s age2 hours · $25 youth · $75 family
Visit the apiary
Meet Mark where he keeps his bees. Watch the hive, explore flowers and learn together. Protective gear is provided. An accompanying guardian joins free.
Adults $35. Family booking: up to 2 adults and 2 children.
Ask for an apiary visitSchools & groups · Visit fees + travel
Invite Mark to school
Mark brings live bees safely enclosed behind glass, real comb and bee activities to your classroom. Tell him the children’s ages, your group size and where you are.
School prices & visit requestThe way we keep bees
Happy, Healthy, Heavy — working together, they make Harmony.
The 4H way is built on observation before intervention. You learn to listen to the hive first — the sound, the scent, the traffic at the door — so that when you do open it, you already know what you are looking at. Treatment-free does not mean hands-off; it means helping early, gently and with purpose.
Read about the 4H MethodCommon questions
Asked by almost every beginner
Do I need experience?
None at all. Every beekeeper started exactly where you are. Start with the free lessons, then come stand beside a hive with Mark — that first hour teaches more than a shelf of books.
When is the best time to start?
Spring is when bees and beekeepers begin their year. Fall and winter are the perfect time to learn, plan and gather what you need, so you are ready when the bees are.
Can my kids learn too?
Yes — that is what EduBee Junior is for. Free online lessons for ages 5–18, held under a parent or teacher account, plus family workshops at the apiary.
What makes The Foraging Bee different?
The 4H way: Happy, Healthy, Heavy hives, working together in Harmony. Treatment-free does not mean hands-off — it means learning to read the hive so well that you help early and gently.
Ready when you are
A little curiosity is all you need.
Read a story from the bee yard, try a free lesson, or ask about a visit with your family. Whether you are five or eighty-five, there is always something new to discover.
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