Beekeeping is traditionally a field where men are far more numerous. That is exactly why this year we decided to do something different, a course in the basics of beekeeping made only for women.
The idea was simple: to give women a chance to take their first step into the world of bees in a safe and encouraging setting, to gain the basic knowledge and practical skills, and to get everything they need to carry on by themselves.
The response showed how much such a programme was needed. More than 70 women applied, and 30 of them were selected to take part and successfully complete the whole course.
From theory to working with bees
The programme was designed so that the participants would not stop at theory.
The course included classroom teaching, in which the participants learned the basics of bee biology, the organisation of a bee colony, beekeeping equipment and the basic principles of working with bees.
Then came the most important part, the practical sessions at the apiary in the Honey Garden, where the participants could apply what they had learned right at the hives, with experienced beekeepers beside them.
Step by step, from putting on a beekeeping suit for the first time to working around a hive more independently, the goal was to build what a book teaches with difficulty, confidence in handling bees.
Gear to carry the path on
We did not want their beekeeping to end when the course did.
So every participant also received her own basic gear: a beekeeping suit, gloves and a hive tool.
That way, along with the knowledge and the hands-on experience, they left the course with real tools that let them keep learning, keep practising and, perhaps one day, start their own first colonies.
More women around the hives
For BeeCenter this course was more than one more training session.
We want to bring beekeeping closer to people who may not have had the chance to come near it before, and to show that a place beside a hive belongs to anyone willing to learn, to work and to care for bees.
If among this year’s 30 participants there are even a few future beekeepers who will one day have their own hives, pass the knowledge on or simply stay connected to the world of bees, then we have taken an important first step.
With the support of the International Women’s Club
This year’s course was made possible by the support of the International Women’s Club, a partner that recognised how much new opportunities for women through education and practical skills matter.
We thank them once again for the trust and the support thanks to which 30 women got the chance to take their first serious step into beekeeping.
And we hope that in the years ahead we will see more and more women around our hives.
