Episode 247 · June 13, 2017
247: Kim Lehman on Beekeeping for Kids
Helping young beekeepers learn and grow comfortable with the hives.
In this episode
Kim has worked over 25 years as a honey bee educator, teacher, professional storyteller, musician, and author. She has presented hundreds of programs and workshops at schools, libraries, museums, nature centers, and festivals. Through her work, children have gained a greater understanding of the honey bee, nature’s tiny treasure.
Our Guest
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As part of her children’s column for Bee Culture Magazine, Kim began the Bee Buddies Club which now has members in every state. Years ago, she founded the American Beekeeping Federation Kids and Bees Program and directed this educational service about honey bees for the public at their annual conferences in 15 states. Her book Beekeeper’s Lab: 52 Family-Friendly Activities and Experiments Exploring the Life of the Hive was published this year.
The next generation of beekeepers can be intrigued and inspired by fun activities dreamt up by Kim Lehman through her many years of honey bee education. She shares how she got started with bees, some of the interesting facts about bees and beekeeping, and why she focuses on teaching these skills to kids. There are some sweet points in the podcast!
- Growing up in nature and how her interest in herbs led her to working with bees
- Her explanation of a “free-range” child
- Her ideas to do thing together as a family and learn about bees and the products of bees
- How these activities are very interactive
- Some of the things that can be made from beeswax
- More about honey and what the best kind of honey is to buy
- Why honey comes in so many different colors and flavors
- Some medicinal aspects of honey, some of which are even used in traditional settings
- What propolis is and why bees collect it
- How she uses the propolis
- Pollen and the relationship with bees
- How bee stings can be used as an anti-inflammatory
- How bees are struggling from malnutrition due to monocrops
- And Colony Collapse Disorder and what can be done to help
- Several suggestions on how to support bees in your garden and areas around you
- How many thousands of different bees exist
- More about carpenter bees
- How much honey one bee makes over its lifetime
- How she got started in beekeeping and how her mentor helps
- Her suggestion on how to find a mentor
- Mites as a reality of beekeeping, and how to deal with them
- Why diatomaceous earth is not an answer for dealing with mites in bee hives
Books written by Kim
Beekeeper's Lab: 52 Family-Friendly Activities and Experiments Exploring the Life of the Hive
Ruth Cooks! A Family Cookbook from a Pennsylvania Dutch Community - Compiled by Kim Lehman
Kim’s Book recommendations
Man's Search for Meaning – by Viktor K Frankl
How to reach Kim
Website: KimLehman.com
UrbanFarm.org/Bees4Kids
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