CCIS Land of Dreams: Beekeeper in Training

Situated on a 30-acre plot of land on the east side of Calgary, the Land of Dreams is an urban farming initiative bringing community, social connection, and food to life in partnership with recently arrived immigrants and refugees through CCIS. At the Land of Dreams, we seek to support newcomers navigating the difficulties of resettlement and integration by offering space to put down roots, create meaningful connections, grow food for their families.
We are seeking dedicated and enthusiastic Beekeepers to join our Bee Club, led by Patrick, to ensure our honeybees thrive in their new home on the Land of Dreams.
This volunteer position has been created to provide immigrant and refugee community members with hands-on beekeeping knowledge and experience
Our beekeepers will work closely with our Head Beekeeper, Patrick, and alongside experienced beekeeping mentors and under the supervision of our on-site manager.
LIST OF DUTIES INCLUDE: 
1. Follow all safety guidelines and protocols of the Land of Dreams Garden
2. Create and utilize a log of all actions done to the hives and colonies
3. Inspect the bee colonies for adequate stores, queen right status, and pathogens
4. Assemble bee equipment
5. Extract honey and harvest other products of the hives
6. Understand the duties that each season brings - feeding, water management, swarm control, requeening if required, supering for honey collection, varroa mite control readying the colonies for winter
 7. Involvement in the sale of the honey and hive products
8. Build necessary bee equipment such as hive top and bottom, hive stands and other required equipment
9. Assist in the facilitation of workshops and other educational opportunities
10. Contribute to the Land of Dreams community in positive ways
SKILLS REQUIRED:
1. Strong interpersonal skills to work and communicate with other gardeners and volunteers
2. Willing and able to follow instructions of mentors
3. Willing to take beekeeping courses and further investigate the way honeybees (as available)
4. Must have transportation to get to and from the site
5. Ability to join Tuesday or Thursday evening or Saturday Bee Club times
6. Basic woodworking an asset
7. Ability to work unsupervised (after training)
8. Experience in beekeeping an asset but NOT REQUIRED
9. Selection preference will be given to recent immigrants and refugees
10. Follow all safety procedures
TIME COMMITTMENT:
Expect to volunteer more heavily in early-mid spring and early fall as hives are prepared for the change in seasons. Approx. 10 hours/week. Throughout the middle of the season, regular beekeeping will happen once a week for approximately 3-4 hours

IF INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT NICOLE AT LAND OF DREAMS 
LandOfDreams@ccisab.ca
with the subject line of beekeepers.