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Entomology: UGA Honey Bee Program

Georgia Master Beekeeper Program: Master Beekeepers

Cindy Bee, Master Beekeeper

Cindy BeeAbout Cindy:

Cindy Bee grew up with bees, following in her father’s footsteps, and eventually took over his operation. She has been removing honeybees from structures as a full time job for twelve years. She operates approximately 65 hives, is a honey producer, gives talks and lectures nationally (mainly in the winter), makes candles, provides apitherapy, and is on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Bee Club. Cindy was recognized by the Georgia Beekeeper's Association as the 2006 Beekeeper of the Year. During spring swarm season she receives and distributes swarm calls to other beekeepers and is always on call for questions and suggestions to beginning beekeepers. She is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Professional Writing and is collecting stories from beekeepers age 70 and older who have been keeping bees for more than 25 years.

Volunteer services available:

Cindy is an active instructor for the Junior Beekeepers’ Program, donates honeybees to nature centers, has mentored young beekeepers who are starting out, is a speaker at state and local and national bee meetings, and provides apitherapy.

Paid services available:

Provides apiary consultations, talks and lectures on beekeeping.

Contact:
877 Madison Street
Comer, GA 30629
beejourney2010@gmail.com
770-490-9867

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Jimmy Carmack, Master Beekeeper

Jimmy CarmackAbout Jimmy:

As a child I was always fascinated by bees and would catch them in jars to watch. I worked with a man who kept bees and he took me to the Sears and Roebuck store in downtown Birmingham where Sears had a large stock of beekeeping supplies. He showed me what to buy along with the “First Lessons in Beekeeping” book. So, in 1973 I ordered my first bees from Sears and Roebuck Co. which came from York Bee Company in Jesup, GA. I have been keeping bees ever since. I am a self-employed heavy equipment mechanic and sideline beekeeper, and lately it seems I have become more beekeeper and less mechanic.

My wife, LindaKaye, and I met at a bee convention in Alabama, and we were married in our bee suits in Reno, NV, at the American Beekeeping Federation Convention in 2005. We have about 80 colonies of bees spread between Mobile and Huntsville, AL. We primarily produce wildflower honey, cotton honey and occasionally kudzu honey. These honeys have won numerous local, state and national ribbons. In 2007, Whole Foods Market, a national grocery chain, opened their first and only store in Alabama and contacted us to be their local honey supplier after sampling a variety of honeys from this area.

I have served as President/Vice President of Jefferson County Beekeepers Association numerous times and President/Vice President of the Alabama Beekeepers Association three times each. I was involved in the talks with the Alabama Farmers Federation in creating a Bee and Honey Commodity with their organization, and served on their Bee and Honey State Committee for 9 years which is the term limit. Currently I am the EAS Director for Alabama. Over the years I have been on numerous local TV shows, radio and newspaper articles to educate, promote and address honeybee issues.

Volunteer Services:

Swarm retrieval and occasional bee programs to civic and church groups. Have participated in workshops and short courses at Auburn University, state and local bee meetings, have set up exhibits at fairs, Earth Day, and Farm Day for Kids at schools around the state. Currently establishing an apiary at Jones Valley Urban Farm in downtown Birmingham to use for beekeeping education and mentoring.

Paid Services:

Bee removal from buildings, honey sales at numerous produce, health food and grocery stores in several counties. In summer months, I keep busy participating at several farmers markets.

Contact:

201 17th Ave NW
Birmingham AL 35215
205-854-8334 Home
205-966-5223 Cell
purealabamahoney@yahoo.com

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Keith Fielder, Master Beekeeper

Keith FielderAbout Keith:

Keith Fielder can trace his roots and passion for beekeeping to his English, Scottish and German ancestors who first came to Georgia in the late 1700s. He is a sideline beekeeper with around 30 colonies which provide extracted, chunk and comb honey. He also produces specialty honeys like Sourwood, Cotton and Blackberry. The honey along with beeswax products are marketed locally by Keith’s wife Rose Anne. Beekeeping also allows Keith to indulge his hobby of wood working by making most his own wooden ware.

Keith has been an invited educational speaker and guest lecturer on apicultural topics for beekeeping organizations and community groups, not only across Georgia, but on a national and international level as well. He has lectured and presented workshops at the meetings of the Georgia Beekeepers Association, Eastern Apicultural Society, and most recently at the summer meeting of the Institute of Northern Irish Beekeepers. Keith serves on the staff of the annual Young Harris – UGA Beekeeping Institute in Young Harris, Georgia. He also enjoys working with various youth oriented groups such as Georgia 4-H, informing young people about the honeybee and beekeeping.

Keith is a certified Welsh Honey Judge and as such was extended the honor of being the first U.S. Welsh Honey Judge to serve as a Judges Steward at the Great Yorkshire Honey Show in Harrogate, England in 2008.

He has been sought out for comment on apicultural matters by media outlets such as the New York Times, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Magazine and the British Broadcasting Company.

Keith has served the Georgia Beekeepers Association first as Secretary then as President during 2006-2007 and Past President 2007-2008.

He is employed by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension as the County Extension Coordinator for Putnam County.

Contact:

Eatonton, Georgia
706-485-4151
kfielder@uga.edu

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Lonnie W. Funderburg, Master Beekeeper

Lonnie FunderburgAbout Lonnie:

In the fall of 1989, a remark by a retiring client, "I want to set up some bee hives", sparked my interest. I visited a commercial beekeeper, Louis Harbin, who referred me to Jim Cain. After assembling and painting six brood boxes and eighteen shallow supers then installing six packages for my retiring client in April 1990, I began acquiring colonies of my own. Since 1991 I have been the resident beekeeper at Homestead Hollow, a folk festival held three weekends a year in Springville, Alabama. In 2003, I began the certification program at the Young Harris Beekeeping Institute. At the May 2005 course, I was awarded my Georgia Master Beekeeper. Usually, I have between fifteen and twenty-five colonies in four locations. One colony has been in the atrium of the Professional Office Building of Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama since 2005. Beginning in 1999, I have moved some colonies to unique nectar sources such as Ti Ti, gallberry, and cotton.

At most every opportunity I will speak to a class, garden club, or civic organization. I have made presentations at Pell City's Kids Day on the Farm (1), Huntsville's Constitution Village (2), Scottsboro's Heritage Day (2), Madison County Fair's E-Day (5), Carbon Hill Elementary's After School Program (1), Blountsville Elementary School (8), Springville Elementary School (1), and many local bee associations. Birmingham television station WBRC Fox 6 featured me with my hospital atrium colony on Good Day Alabama. I was a guest on the Oneonta WKLD radio station. So far, I have not charged for any of these presentations.

Over the past six years I have assisted with a dozen bee removals from structures. My wife, Bonnie, and I sell honey, candles, lip balm, skin cream, and hand lotion. When available, I sell nucs.

Contact:

1260 Easley Bridge Road
Oneonta, AL 35121-4110
205-625-3464
funder@otelco.net

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In Memory of Michael Gailey, Master Beekeeper

Michael GaileyMichael passed away December 2008.

About Michael:

My interest in beekeeping started about 15 years ago. I had no bees of my own; I was helping a friend with his. After a few years my curiosity grew and I wanted to learn more. I signed up for the Young Harris Beekeeping Institute, the State Bee Club and a local club. I was reading about bees everyday at work during my lunch break. I then felt confident enough to sign up for the Master Beekeeper Program. I was in one of the first groups to receive the Master degree after four years. I now have 25 colonies, raise my own queens and build my own equipment. I sell out of honey every year, wishing I had more. What started as a curiosity has become my favorite hobby.

My wife is the 4-H Coordinator in Banks County and I have many opportunities to volunteer in our local school system by giving presentations and by helping with 4-H District Project Achievement (DPA) projects and presentations. I have a Power Point presentation on the hive equipment and accessories that I build and sell.

I build and sell white pine bee hive equipment and accessories to local people in the Northeast Georgia area. It has become a very successful sideline business.

I sell pure local honey to local people and businesses. In 2009, I will be partnering with Bob Binnie to sell nucs to local beekeepers.

Contact:

522 Ga Hwy 105 South
Baldwin, GA 30511
Home 706-776-1843
Cell 706-499-8889
mcgailey@windstream.net

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Tom Handford, Master Beekeeper

Tom Handford

About Tom:

In 2005 North Carolina offered 2 hives for free to new beekeepers through the Gold Leaf program. Having enjoyed my introduction to mushroom production through the Gold Leaf program I applied, but I was not chosen to get a hive. However, an interest was sparked and Robert Brewer (Towns County, GA Agriculture Extension Service), Larry Sams (president of North GA Beekeepers Association), and Keith Wood (Cherokee County, NC Extension Service) held an introductory beekeeping meeting in Andrews, NC. There I learned about the Young Harris Bee Institute and subsequently enrolled.

After the Bee Institute, I was stung by the bug. The real adventure started two weeks later; my wife bought me my first hive and suit for Father’s Day. When I took my son to get the hive he was traumatized with his fear of bees. We had one bee suit between us. While I closed up the hive my son watched. Then I removed my suit and gave it to him. We managed to take off one super and make a stretcher to carry the hive and other super to the truck. When we arrived back at the house we carried the bees across the creek on a make-shift bridge (because the agreement was that the bees were to stay on the other side of the creek!). After tucking in the bees for the night we went up to the house and I put the honey super on the front porch in order to clean it the next day. Little did we know … the next afternoon when my son arrived home from school I got a call telling me that we had a new hive on the front porch! Then my wife arrived home! Needless to say, I learned a great deal about the robbing behaviors of the honeybee that day. But best of all, my son started losing his fear of bees.

The last six years has been a series of beekeeping adventures – I have continued to attend the Beekeeping Institute where I became a Welsh Honey Judge and a Master Beekeeper. I have also attended the Born and Bred Program in North Carolina and hope to work more in queen rearing. I have become involved in bee removal from structures. I am a charter member of the Appalachian Beekeepers Association and Vice President of the North Georgia Mountain Beekeepers Association.

Services Available: Bee presentations with /or without bees, honey judging, and bee removals from structure for a fee. (Droning on to anyone who will listen is always free!)

Contact:
Tom Handford
14 Golden Rd.
Murphy NC 28906
Home# 828-494-3564
Cell# 828-361-6813
tomhandford@bellsouth.net

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Fred Hembree, Master Beekeeper

Fred HembreeAbout Fred:

Fred Hembree first became fascinated with honeybees as a little boy when he was asked to help his grandfather harvest honey on a rural Tennessee farm. As a young adult, he was given a copy of Walter T. Kelley’s book, How to Keep Bees and Sell Honey, which he read numerous times until he felt confident enough to build his first two hives and begin an apiary on his own. Now a third-generation beekeeper, Fred has written articles for Bee Culture Magazine and Farming Magazine. He is a member of the Tennessee Beekeepers Association and the Robertson County and Rutherford County Beekeepers Associations. Fred has presented workshops for the Tennessee Beekeepers Association Annual Conference and for the Heartland Apicultural Society. While there are many aspects of beekeeping that Fred enjoys, he particularly likes helping newcomers get started in beekeeping.

Fred is married to Debra Church, a Young Harris College / UGA Certified Beekeeper. Together, they enjoy working bees, catching swarms, harvesting honey and sharing their knowledge of beekeeping with others. They manage an apiary of approximately a dozen hives and take pleasure in producing local honey for sale.

In the tradition of Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth, Father of American Beekeeping, Fred is also a clergyman apiarist. He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia and is an ordained minister. Fred is currently serving as Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Springfield, Tennessee.

Fred is available to speak at beekeeping meetings and to schools, churches or civic groups. Assistance with travel expenses and honoraria is appreciated.

Contact:
3624 Legacy Drive
Springfield, TN 37172-6382
615-667-1409
fbhembree@aol.com

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Cindy Hodges, Master Beekeeper

Cindy HodgesAbout Cindy:

Cindy Hodges is a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Emory University. She is involved in volunteer work with The Assistance League of Atlanta as well as with The Friends of the Dunwoody Library. She and her husband own and operate “Hodges Honey” apiaries located in Dunwoody and Decatur. She maintains the observation hive at Dunwoody Nature Center. Her passion is exploring the art of suburban beekeeping. Cindy has many awards from honey contests at the local, state, and international levels. She is a prize winning photographer and enjoys photographing bees at work. She has been interviewed on television, quoted in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and has published articles in Bee Craft Magazine (UK) and Bee Culture Magazine (USA). Cindy is on the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers’ Association and is also on the Board of Directors and secretary of the Georgia Beekeepers’ Association.

Cindy frequently speaks about bees and beekeeping at nature centers, garden clubs, schools, festivals, and other organizations and events. One of her more popular activities is bringing an observation hive which allows the group to closely view worker bees, the queen, and various stages of brood in a colony. She handles swarm removal and rescues and is pleased to sell local raw honey when available.

Contact:

5100 North Peachtree Road
Dunwoody, Georgia 30338-4508
770-394-5051
Dunwoodyhoney@bellsouth.net

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Wil Montgomery, Master Beekeeper

Wil MontgomeryAbout Wil:

I started keeping bees about 1976 in California, the state where I was born and raised. I try to help new people interested in starting out with a hive or two of bees. I'm listed at alabees.com on the web where most people find my contact information. One of my most memorable experiences in keeping bees was to be selected as a cooperator in a research project funded by Alfa Insurance and the USDA bee lab in Baton Rouge, LA.

I got to know Dr. Bob Danka when he brought me 15 queens, 5 Russian, 5 VSH, and 5 Control. I was privileged to participate in the project for two years. The goal was to see which type of queen was the most resistant to the mite Varroa destructor. When instructed to do so, I would collect 300 bee samples into plastic bags and either take or send them to the University of Alabama Huntsville campus where Dr. Ward would do a mite count and calculate whether or not a hive needed medication. The VSH queens proved to be the more mite resistant, followed by the Russians and as expected the control queens were the poorest. The most difficult portion of the experiment was getting queen acceptance. In some cases the hive would accept a queen, only to supersede her within two weeks. I've had many hobbies in the past, but beekeeping is the only one that has given the most challenge and satisfaction. I currently manage about 25 hives in Alabama.

I pick up swarms and remove bees from a building for a fee. I sometimes attend a farmers market in Gadsden, AL, selling honey and beeswax candles. I have two prerequisites if you want my assistance getting started with bees: (1) hives must be registered with the AL State Apiary Department and (2) you must be a member of the Alabama State Beekeepers Association.

Contact:

1401 Lakemont Dr S
Southside, AL 35907
256-442-7515
n4wm@juno.com

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Steven Nofs, Master Beekeeper

Steven NofsAbout Steven:

Unlike most beekeepers who learned the craft from a close friend or family member, I had no exposure to honeybees until my 20s. While finishing my engineering degree at Virginia Tech, I needed some electives and while searching the course catalog, I found “Introduction to Bees and Beekeeping.” That course got me hooked and I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping bees ever since.

Along with my wife Jacqueline, we produce honey and many other hive products in the central Georgia area including bee pollen, beeswax candles, and lip balms. Our products can be found in several central Georgia retail outlets as well as local farm markets.

I am currently serving as president of the Heart of Georgia Beekeepers Association. I have appeared on Macon’s WMAZ-TV and have written beekeeping articles for the Macon Telegraph. I have also done numerous presentations for children’s groups and civic groups.

Services available:

I am available to do honeybee presentations (with or without live bees). I also pick up hanging swarms and remove honeybees from structures.

Contact:

Shamrock Apiaries
304 Woodmont Court
Macon, GA 31216
478-396-0712
ganofs@cox.net

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Bill Owens, Master Craftsman Beekeeper

Bill OwensAbout Bill:

Bill's father had honey bees when he was growing up, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he was "bitten by the bee" after settling down on his own. Bill is a past Chairman of the Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association, past President of the Georgia Beekeepers Association, and past Vice President of the Eastern Apicultural Society. Bill started in the Master Beekeeper program in 2002 and became the first Master Craftsman Beekeeper in 2006. Bill owns and operates Owens Apiaries. They sell honey and other bee products and specialize in bee removal.

I am available to do lectures, workshops, shortcourses, 4-H work, demonstrations, science fair judging, or school presentations. If I have to travel beyond 50 miles I ask for assistance with travel expenses.

Paid Services:

Bee Removal

Contact:

4510 Springwood Dr.
Monroe, GA 30655
404-516-1807
bowens@owensapiaries.net
http://www.owensapiaries.net

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Jay Parsons, Master Beekeeper


Jay ParsonsAbout Jay:
It’s been a few years, but by all accounts Jay has been kept by the bees since April of 2007. This is not the first time bees have been in the family. His grandfather had bees, although it’s been about half a century from that point in time until now.  Jay remembers on his way out to collect eggs from the chicken house and being cautioned by his grandfather not to go behind it because there were bees there. Well, curiosity being what it is, Jay, after returning with the eggs, just had to ask what those white boxes behind the chicken house were for. He missed out on a good education there as his grandfather died very young and never was able to pass on all that beekeeping information.

After two other Master’s degrees, one in Science and another in Education, this current Master’s in Beekeeping through the Beekeeping Institute seems like a fine blend of curricula. He plans on continuing in this field of bees and dreams well into retirement and feels that there is a whole lot more entomology to learn as well as practices to implement. Now that Jay has a few over twenty hives, he thinks it is time to expand on a number of themes.  His honey house is nearly complete and Department of Agriculture approval just down the road, so certain commercial avenues may open up in the future. More hives are a definite as well.

Currently Jay is a member of the Board of Director’s of the Metro-Atlanta Beekeeper’s Association and participates in a number of community awareness public service activities. Jay has been active in the honey contest sector too and has a number of red, white, and blue ribbons not to mention a Best of Show ribbon also. He has won the ribbons for extracted honey in several color grades, wax block, section comb, creamed honey, and mead. Perhaps candles, sculptures and other related products will be next. His favorite however, is getting the bees to make wax and honey in the older section comb tradition using the square basswood boxes. He uses antique section comb cartons when participating in honey shows.

When not being taken to task by his Apis friends to maintain their little wooden square homes or repair the furniture therein, Jay teaches for the Cobb County School System. An early retirement always seems like a really fine idea when it comes up for discussion.

Jay is available for outside swarm removals, removals from inside houses, and select presentations with an observation hive.  Jay sells honey and candles at some of his presentations and is also developing a fledgling website to promote products and honeybee awareness.

Contact:

5694 Kimberly Lane
Norcross, Georgia 30071-3415
404-379-7621
thehoneyman@att.net
http://www.danceswithbees.com

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Jim Quick, Master Beekeeper

Jim Quick About Jim:

Jim attributes his love for honeybees to his grandfather who began teaching him the craft in 1979. Today, Jim operates about 40 hives, produces and sells honey, and is on call for swarm removal.

Jim is an advocate for honeybees and beekeeping. He hopes by speaking to young students about the importance of the honeybee he can inspire them be the next generation of beekeepers. Jim speaks at many of the local daycares and primary and elementary schools. He has spoken to several Boy Scout troops, 4-H clubs and Home School Associations. Jim also maintains an observation hive for the Griffin-Spalding County Schools Science and Enrichment Center.

He has made presentations at the Georgia Beekeepers Association annual meeting and the annual Young Harris College / UGA Beekeeping Institute in Young Harris, Georgia.

Jim is available to new beekeepers to answer questions on the various aspects of beekeeping, demonstrate how to work and maintain a hive, honey extraction, how to catch a swarm, and swarm removal from a structure.

Jim is employed at the University of Georgia – Griffin Campus. He is a Research Professional in the Entomology Department.

Services:

Presentations, Demonstrations, and Bee Removal. All services are evaluated individually to determine fee.

Contact:

jquick@griffin.uga.edu

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Virginia Stephens Webb, Master Beekeeper

Virginia Stephens Webb, Master BeekeeperAbout Virginia:

Joe Stephens, Virginia’s father is her model for beekeeping. Beekeeping was a family hobby for many years and in 1964 Virginia received her first beehive. From then forward she was hooked on keeping bees. Virginia was the first 4-H winner in Tennessee Beekeeping and was the 1975 Tennessee State Honey Queen.

Today she and her husband Carl are full time commercial beekeepers and queen breeders in North Georgia. Their beekeeping operation consists of over 350 production colonies and a queen yard. They specialize in raising Russian Queens. Virginia became the first Certified Welsh Honey Judge in the United States. She has competed throughout the United States and in Europe in honey show and has won Best in Show in over 20 shows. In 2005 Virginia and her husband attended the Apimondia (World Beekeeping Federation) and entered the first ever World Honey Show. With over 21 countries participating, and 400 individual entries, Virginia’s Sourwood Honey won the top Honor of BEST HONEY IN THE WORLD. This year at the American Beekeeping Federation Honey Show, Virginia again won Best in Show for the 3rd time.

Virginia is a greatly sought after speaker, speaking to beekeeping clubs, agriculture organizations and civic clubs throughout the US. She has worked with beekeepers in almost every state and in the Caribbean. She also writes about the importance of beekeeping in agriculture.

Currently she is a member of the American Beekeeping Federation Board of Directors, the Georgia Farm Bureau Honeybee Advisory Committee, Treasurer of the Georgia Beekeepers Assoc., a charter member of the Russian Queen Breeders Association and past member of the National Honey Board Nominations Committee.

Past awards:

1993 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year, 2002 North Georgia Farm Bureau, Farm Woman of the Year, Tennessee Beekeepers Assoc. Life Time Member and Past President of the Georgia Beekeepers Association and Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Assoc.

Volunteer Activities:

Teaching Children about Bees. Currently Virginia speaks to over 2,000 children each year about the importance of beekeeping and the roll of beekeepers. Workshops on Conservation and Beekeeping (Beekeepers have always been Green); Marketing Outside the Beehive; Everything You Wanted to Know about Beeswax (Candles, Ornaments, Painting and Cooking); Preparing Honey to Show and Small Operation Queen Breeding.

Contact:

349 Gastley Road
Clarkesville, GA 30523
706-754-7062
MtnHoney@windstream.net
www.MtnHoney.com

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Linda Tillman, Master Beekeeper

Linda Tillman, Master BeekeeperAbout Linda:

Linda Tillman has been interested in beekeeping since the 70s when she checked out all the books she could find in the Nashville library on how to have bees in your backyard. With raising children, finishing graduate school, and starting a career along the way, she didn’t actually begin keeping bees until 2006.

Linda now has hives at her home and maintains hives at two community gardens. To keep records of her beekeeping experiences, Linda started an Internet blog in April 2006 when she installed her first nucs (www.beekeeperlinda.com). She writes about her beekeeping learning experiences, her mistakes and her successes. On her blog she demonstrates her passion for natural beekeeping, using no poisons and foundationless frames, among other natural beekeeping practices. She has made and posted videos on basic beekeeping skills such as inspecting a hive, harvesting honey without an extractor, using a simple solar wax melter, and other topics. She posts frequently on her blog which is visited by people from all over the world, gets about 750 visits a day in busy season, and has almost 1000 subscribers.

Linda has been interviewed for Internet podcasts and on Atlanta radio programs. She has given talks and workshops big and small, from local garden clubs, scout troops, and school groups in the Atlanta area to the Southeast Organic Beekeepers Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. One of her favorite activities is mentoring new beekeepers. As a Director on the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association Board, one way in which Linda mentors others is through working with new beekeepers in Metro’s hands-on hive inspection program.

Having won many ribbons at honey shows, Linda gives talks to beekeepers on preparing honey for show, harvesting honey, as well as pouring wax blocks. Always interested in new ways to employ products of the hive, Linda has made lip balm, lotion, lotion bars, and candles with her beeswax and honey.

When she is not enjoying her sideline interest in beekeeping, Linda has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University and is in private practice in midtown Atlanta. She also teaches in Emory’s Department of Rehabilitative Medicine where she trains doctoral students in physical therapy to communicate well with their patients.

Available for:
Swarm removal (if it doesn’t require a tall ladder!)
Talks on bees and beekeeping for garden clubs, school groups, camps, scout troops, community organizations, eco-fairs, science fairs, etc.

Talks to beekeeping groups on such topics as:

Harvesting honey without an extractor
• Making and using a solar wax melter
• Making your own lip balm and lotion
• Preparing honey and wax for entering a show
• Doing a basic hive inspection

Contact:
5144 Timber Trail S NE,
Atlanta, GA 30342-2148
404-447-1943
beekeeperlinda@gmail.com

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Damon Wallace, Master Beekeeper 


Damon WallaceAbout Damon:

Looking for a meaningful hobby to fill a gap in some sort of “late mid-life crisis” led me to a bee symposium at a local university a number of Februarys ago. Seeing pollen in early February, not being stung during the open hive demonstration, and hearing a little about honeybees triggered a resurgence of “upbringing memories:” my Dad’s 3 acre garden, 4-H’er for 11 years, woodworker still with all my fingers, UGa Agricultural Engineer. I was captured by these fascinating little creatures – honey bees. 

I give bee talks to just about anyone or any club who will listen. Several spring and fall festivals will find me talking bees, selling honey and promoting beekeeping. I’ve given presentations to community involvement groups, professional associations and even an international environmental conference. 

I do swarm voluntary removals, preferring those chest-high on outer branches of the tree. I sell honey and make a small amount of candles and lotions for my family’s use. 

My involvement with beekeeper associations includes charter membership and officerships with the Saughahatchee Beekeepers Association and Alabama Beekeepers Association. I am also certified in the Young Harris/UGA Beekeeping Institute Welsh Honey Judge program.

Contact:
2003 Highpoint Drive
Opelika, Alabama 36801
334-745-5312
damonwallace.beeman@gmail.com 

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Michael Young, Master Beekeeper

Michael YoungAbout Michael:

Michael has held many officer positions in beekeeping organizations including:

  • President of the Ulster Beekeepers Association
  • Chairman of Dromore District Beekeepers Association
  • Show Manager Dromore District Beekeepers Association
  • Chairman for the Council of National Beekeeper Associations
  • Chairman and founder of the Institute of the Northern Ireland Beekeepers Association

Lectures on:

  • Queen rearing
  • Apitherapy
  • Essential oils and oxalic acid
  • African killer bees
  • Honey judging producing exhibits for the show bench
  • Mead making
  • Bee disease
  • All aspects of beekeeping

Workshops

  • Wax modeling, candles
  • Cosmetics
  • Gourmet honey cookery
  • Encaustic wax painting
  • Preparing bee produce for the show bench
  • Making mead
  • Practical beekeeping
  • Judging bee produce at honey shows

Terms: accommodation, travel and food only required

Contact:

Mileaway
101 Carnreagh
BT 266lj
Co Down
Northern Ireland
0044 02892 689724
myoungjudge@yahoo.co.uk

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