Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: bees
- Animal Products: honey
Practices
- Education and Training: mentoring, youth education
- Sustainable Communities: urban agriculture
Abstract:
Farmers Leading Youth (FLY) Beekeeping project provided leadership and development to youth participants by bringing innovative farming techniques through the science/education of beekeeping and entrepreneurship. The age ranges of the youth were 11-17 yrs, made of youth from the neighborhood and local community groups. Eight youth participanted in beekeeping and entrepreneur activities that included building hives, installing bee packages, scheduled hive maintenance, over wintering process and honey harvesting. They also gained knowledge in basic gardening, native planting, rain gardens and water quality. Local beekeepers were involved in this project by conducting workshops and hands-on training to the youth in making products with the honey, wax and culinary items.
Project objectives:
The objectives were:
- To teach youth about beekeeping
- Build hives
- Field trip
- Workshops
They built two hives and installed two bee packages. With the assistance of local partners, youth were able to create a schedule for hive maintenance and harvest plan. During the project they took several field trips to local farms and beekeeping clubs to connect with others that have apiaries in the community. The workshops included the youth learning different types of planting for forging, different types of hives, pest control, and over wintering processes.
