For Whom:
The course is designed for individuals wanting to begin their beekeeping journey and do not yet have bees, as well as those who already have bees but lack basic knowledge about how to care for them. We promote a sustainable approach to beekeeping and teach respect for the work of these super-organisms. If your priority is to harvest large quantities of honey without proper care for the bees, this course may not be for you.
What You Will Learn:
We will introduce you to the world of bees, teach you how to care for them and enjoy the process, and also share the challenges of beekeeping. You will learn all the basic aspects necessary to start a beekeeping operation. You’ll find out if beekeeping is the right activity for you. You will discover various solutions and decide which ones will be optimal for your apiary. In practice, you will explore sustainable beekeeping and acquire the essential knowledge to establish your first beehive.
What You Will Need:
We will provide basic beekeeping equipment. During the course, you will receive a protective suit fitted to your size and necessary tools.
All you need to bring is suitable clothing and footwear, including new beekeeping gloves (available for purchase on-site for 30 PLN). After signing up, you will receive detailed instructions on how to prepare for the course.
Safety:
Safety is a priority in our apiary. We ensure all our bee families are gentle, but we cannot guarantee that you won’t be stung by a bee (it happens very rarely). Before starting the course, you will receive instructions on how to prepare for your visit to the apiary to minimize the risk of being stung (e.g., we recommend not wearing perfume or strong-scented cosmetics on the day of the course).
If you’ve never been stung by a bee and don’t know how your body reacts, we recommend taking a simple test to check for potential bee venom allergies (available at most laboratories). Only a small percentage of the population is allergic to the extent that it could pose a health risk, but during the course, we take all necessary steps to minimize the risk of being stung.
Course Overview:
– Safety in the apiary
– Where to gather knowledge and experience
– What equipment is necessary
– What costs are involved in setting up an apiary
– How to best acquire bees
– Which hives, tools, and bees to choose (tailored to your needs)
– How to plan your apiary and set up hives
– How and when to inspect a hive
– What to do in emergency situations
– How to maintain hygiene in the apiary
– How to avoid and treat bee diseases
– How to harvest eco-friendly bee products
– Basic legal aspects
Catering:
During the course, you’ll be our guest – you won’t go hungry or thirsty. Before the course, we’ll ask about your dietary preferences (allergies, diets). We begin the course by getting to know each other over breakfast (most products come from our farm or from friendly farmers, eggs from our chicken coop, vegetables from the home garden, natural cheeses, and, of course, honey).
We know our coffee and tea – you will have access to delicious, freshly ground and brewed coffee, and we have a large collection of teas and herbs.
For lunch, we’ll prepare a healthy meal to energize you for the rest of the day. If you’re on a diet or have specific dietary preferences, let us know after signing up – we will accommodate your needs as much as possible.
If the weather permits, we will finish the day with a bonfire, where we’ll prepare a communal meal. This is a great time to share impressions and get to know the other participants better. From our experience, the new friendships formed are a valuable addition to our courses, and you can expect to meet interesting people here.
Who Will Lead the Course:
Ania Kmiecik – An experienced beekeeper and honey gatherer, owner of the “Smile” Apiary. She also runs a YouTube channel under the same name, where she expertly and accessibly shares her knowledge about bees. She promotes and educates on her channel, as well as in radio and television programs. She talks about bees with passion and enthusiasm, and it’s clear in every word how much joy she derives from beekeeping. She infects others with that joy, just as she does with her smile and positive approach to life. She is actively involved in beekeeping organizations and is a member of the “Bartnicze Brotherhood” in Augustów. She is also the secretary of the Beekeepers’ Circle in Dębniki, a member of the WZP Breeding Commission in Kraków, and co-runs the “Help the Bees” project with Igor Pawłyk.
Jasiek Bielak – After over 20 years of working in the creative industry, Jasiek became so fascinated with bees that he decided to change his profession to beekeeping. He and his family moved far from civilization, creating a space friendly to both bees and future beekeepers. Thanks to his work, we now have the facility where we run our courses. He continues to improve his skills both in Poland and abroad to share them with course participants. He experiments with unconventional solutions from the beekeeping world.
