In March 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Central Texas Beekeepers Association’s 14th Annual Beekeeping School in Brenham, Texas. I was able to meet-up with a group of acquaintances, and we had a fun filled with informative sessions led by beekeeping experts.

During Beekeeping School, I made a point to attend sessions by Les Crowder and Nathalie B. from Bee Mindful in Driftwood, Texas. Nathalie also co-hosts a podcast called The Hive Jive which I had been following.

I was super excited to meet them in person, and it was a bit of a fan-girl moment for me talking to Les & Nathalie face-to-face. And I had just finished reading Les Crowder’s book “Top-Bar Beekeeping” so I was able to get him to sign it!

Bee Mindful advocates for natural and treatment-free beekeeping practices, and their mission deeply resonates with me. Their presentations talked about the benefits of keeping bees in a Top Bar Hive and how it leads to healthier, happier bees!

They were able to help me get setup with an affordable top bar hive that I took home that day, and I also ordered a 5-frame nuc colony for pickup in a 2-3 months. Excitement overload!

And then it was time to wait for the arrival of bees. Much like an expectant mom, I used the time to prepare space for the bees when they arrived. I continued to read more books, watch more videos, and help my mentor friend with his hives when possible.

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This story continues: Beekeeping Workshop

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