247: Kim Lehman on Beekeeping for Kids.
Helping young beekeepers learn and grow comfortable with the hives.
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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.
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.Don’t miss an episode! Click here to sign up for weekly podcast updates
In This Podcast:
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!
Listen in and learn about:
- 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
How to reach Kim:
Website: KimLehman.com
UrbanFarm.org/Bees4Kids
Loved the podcast. We plan on starting a hive next year. I have been learning everything I can about bees. It is so interesting. I want to be able to pollinate my garden and all the other things growing around our area. I see bees in the garden all the time, but never honey bees. We plan to plant all kinds of flowers next spring to help the bees. We have a section of our property that I let grow naturally for the weeds and wildflowers. I am also trying to learn about the natural plants that can be eaten. I have tried to find a club in our area where I can get some hands on bee learning. But I cannot find one. I am trying to find some local growers, but have not been able to so far. I appreciate the help and talk in your podcast. Thank you very much
Check out Honeyflow too for some great advice https://www.honeyflow.com/gallery-videos/meet-the-beekeeper-videos/p/225