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Apiary Visits
Visit Apiaries in and around DFW!
Peering inside a honey bee colony is fascinating! If you are interested in the world of bees or the work of a beekeeper this is your chance to visit live bee colonies in real-time! For the new beekeeper or bee enthusiast, there's nothing like seeing bees in real-time and having the chance to explore the inner workings of a colony. For the experienced beekeeper- It is very cool and informative to see the dynamic differences between various bee-yard setups, and how honey bees are managed.
Each Apiary visit offers a different learning experience:
- Experience bees live and see all types hives and tools.
- Get familiar with splitting colonies and making nucs.
- Extract and spin honey.
- Find the queen and learn backyard queen rearing.
- Learn how to read a hive and plan ahead.
- Collect tips and tricks for managing bees in different seasons.
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Do YOU have bees? Show us YOUR stuff! Contact us and host your own Apiary Visit!
Bees are not aggressive by nature- they are not out to get you. Often the bees hardly notice us and merely go about their business. For those bees that want to buzz by and say "hi"- well, that's why we wear protective gear! That said, they can choose to be defensive. Most people would be defensive if a giant removed the roof from their house and moved the furniture around! But therein lies the magic- even as a beekeeper opens up and works inside a beehive, many of the bees simply go with the flow, mind their own business, and allow us a glimpse into their world.
Click here to see previous apiary visits, meeting topics and classes from 2011-present
Looking inside a live bee hive is an experience no amount of book learning or YouTube videos can replicate!
Scheduling Details:
For privacy concerns, the apiary addresses are not shared online.
- Registrants will receive an e-mail with the location address a few days before the event is scheduled- not at the time of registration.
Event date, time and location is subject to change.
- Please be sure to confirm date, time & location either online, or by e-mail the week before the event. Weather is always a factor- if it's raining, we may have to reschedule and refunds for weather cancellations are processed upon request. So know before you roll that the event is still a go!
- Refund requests or re-scheduling of your visit accepted up until the day of the Apiary Visit. Requests for absentees are considered at the discretion of TVBA.
Proof of registration may be requested at the event! Your printed payment receipt or a screenshot of your confirmation email will work. Please come prepared!
- Registrations accepted until event is full. If the event is Closed (out of stock indicated), email us to find out if a last-minute cancelation provides you a space. Also, some Apiary Visits allow for extra attendees.
Pricing:
Entry is priced per household (families only, please).
- TVBA Member Entry: $20
- Non-Member Entry: $40
TVBA Members save $20 on every Apiary Visit!
- Annual TVBA Membership is only $30. Two-Year TVBA Membership is only $50 (that's only $25 per year)!
- Become a TVBA Member and Save.
Safety & Liability:
You must sign a Release Waiver Liability Form to Visit an Apiary with TVBA.
- Bring your own PPE- including gloves and one-piece suits, or jackets + veils.
- Closed-toed shoes or boots only.DO NOT WEAR SANDALS OR CROCS.
- Wear a ballcaps! These are recommended since hat brims help keep the veil off your face so bee stingers can't reach you!
- Tights pants (like Yoga pants) are NOT a good idea- bees will sting right through them if you're only wearing a beekeeper jacket.
If you do not have proper PPE, limited quantities may be available on a first-come first-serve basis.
- Bring your own leather gloves in case we run short on gloves to borrow.
APIARY VISIT CHECKLIST: 1: Register online | 2: Sign Waiver online | 3: Wear proper clothing | 4: Bring proof of registration | Scan Waiver QR Code or Scroll Down
Select One:
$20 | TVBA Member Entry
$40 | Non-Member Entry
Price is per household (families only please).
Add your date(s) to your cart then sign the waiver and complete checkout.
Dates:
Feb. 28: Spring Inspections; Christi the BeeGirl's Apiary, RowlettMarch 28: Shawn Smith; Hive Splits/ Small NucsMay 2:Hive Evaluation; Esther Betschart's Apiary, DallasMay 30: Honey Production & Evaluation;Kim Townsend's Apiary, HeathJune 27: Harvesting Honey with the OG Big Dogs; Sabine Creek Honey Farm, Royce City- NO VISITS IN JULY & AUG
- Sept. 26: Flow Hives & Honey Harvest; Dana DeVance's Apiary, Carrolton
- Oct 31: Winter Prep & Recipes; Kirby Carmichael's Apiary, Rockwall
- Nov. 28: Thinking Outside the Box; Jodi Dubuclet's Apiary, Lake Highlands
Join us- Get Offline and Go Outside!
