Barry's Bees
Victoria BC, Canada
| Home | Bee Hotline 250.213.2894 or by EMail |
Sponsors ICO CRBA First Unitarian Chuch of Victoria |
Donations greatly accepted Please send us an EMail for more information. |
Barryis a local beekeeper
serving the Greater
Victoria area on the southern end
of Vancouver Island, BC Canada. He is an accredited Bee Master and BCHPA certified instructor
of Beginner's Beekeeping. He has been
keeping bees for more than 10 years.
Project support throughout Greater Victoria and around the world is integral to our vision for promoting beekeeping.
Project support throughout Greater Victoria and around the world is integral to our vision for promoting beekeeping.
Rwanda
February
2015 was an absolutely amazing experience for me. I spent 3 weeks on
the ground in Kibogora, Nyamasheke district, western Rwanda teaching
beekeeping. Planning is in progress for a return trip during November
of 2015. Donations for this project are greatly appreciated. Please
send me an EMail
for more information.
This was my first ever visit to Rwanda and the continent of Africa. Regardless of how much preparation one does, it takes several days to adjust to a new culture. I was fortunate to assist John Jordan with his continuing work of several years involving orphans and widows of Rwanda through InnovativeCommunities.org foundation (ICO). More information on John's work can be found on the ICO Rwanda Community page. This beekeeping project is an extension of John's work in the Kibogora area supported by ICO. More recently the local bee club of Victoria, Capital Region Beekeepers, has also provided support to this beekeeping initiative.
Western
Rwanda
The Kibogora area at an average elevation of 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) supports an agrarian culture where cultivation is done by hand on steep hillsides. The coffea plantations and introduced flowering Eucalyptus trees support two major nectar flows each year. There are two distinct growing seasons each year with an abundance of wild flowers in this tropical environment. Definitely a great place to raise honey bees, providing honey as an excellent high quality food supplement for the local peoples.
This was my first ever visit to Rwanda and the continent of Africa. Regardless of how much preparation one does, it takes several days to adjust to a new culture. I was fortunate to assist John Jordan with his continuing work of several years involving orphans and widows of Rwanda through InnovativeCommunities.org foundation (ICO). More information on John's work can be found on the ICO Rwanda Community page. This beekeeping project is an extension of John's work in the Kibogora area supported by ICO. More recently the local bee club of Victoria, Capital Region Beekeepers, has also provided support to this beekeeping initiative.
Western
RwandaThe Kibogora area at an average elevation of 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) supports an agrarian culture where cultivation is done by hand on steep hillsides. The coffea plantations and introduced flowering Eucalyptus trees support two major nectar flows each year. There are two distinct growing seasons each year with an abundance of wild flowers in this tropical environment. Definitely a great place to raise honey bees, providing honey as an excellent high quality food supplement for the local peoples.
The Barefoot Beekeeper
Beekeeping in Rwanda starts with minimal resources. A large part of our project is to bring basic equipment, such as a smoker, in addition to knowledge to advance local beekeeping skills.
Beekeeping in Rwanda starts with minimal resources. A large part of our project is to bring basic equipment, such as a smoker, in addition to knowledge to advance local beekeeping skills.
Intermediate Beekeeping
graduatesMy first class of intermediate beekeepers. I found the Rwandan people extremely kind, courteous and especially open to learning. Please note the two female students. Female beekeepers are now allowed to wear long pants under their skirts while handling honey bees.
Introductory Queen Rearing
graduatesThe interest and response to the Intermediate Beekeeping course was so strong that I held a second course on Introductory Queen Rearing for 9 of the original Intermediate class.
Rwanda November 2015
November
2015
was a return to Kibogora, Nyamasheke district, western Rwanda teaching
beekeeping. My February visit was such a great experience, I had to
accept their request to return. Donations for this project are greatly
appreciated. Please
send me an EMail
for more information.
This being my second visit to Rwanda and the continent of Africa, I found it only took a couple of days to adjust to their culture. It was great to see old friends made during my February visit thanks to John Jordan and his continuing work of several years involving orphans and widows of Rwanda through InnovativeCommunities.org foundation (ICO). More information on John's work can be found on the ICO Rwanda Community page. This beekeeping project is an extension of John's work in the Kibogora area supported by ICO. More recently the local bee club of Victoria, Capital Region Beekeepers, and the firm of Acheson Sweeney Whitley Foley has also provided support to this beekeeping initiative.
Upon
arrival my job was a class of 16 intermediate beekeepers.
The man standing at the back is Jean-Marie, an experienced beekeeper
and my interpreter. Although it is hard to see, there are two female
beekeepers near Jean-Marie.
This being my second visit to Rwanda and the continent of Africa, I found it only took a couple of days to adjust to their culture. It was great to see old friends made during my February visit thanks to John Jordan and his continuing work of several years involving orphans and widows of Rwanda through InnovativeCommunities.org foundation (ICO). More information on John's work can be found on the ICO Rwanda Community page. This beekeeping project is an extension of John's work in the Kibogora area supported by ICO. More recently the local bee club of Victoria, Capital Region Beekeepers, and the firm of Acheson Sweeney Whitley Foley has also provided support to this beekeeping initiative.
Intermediate
Class
Upon
arrival my job was a class of 16 intermediate beekeepers.
The man standing at the back is Jean-Marie, an experienced beekeeper
and my interpreter. Although it is hard to see, there are two female
beekeepers near Jean-Marie.
Advanced
Beekeeping ClassThe advancced beekeeping class consisted of 13 students of which 4 were female. Topics included optimizing brood growth, maximizing nectar collection, queen rearing and candle making.
Beekeepers in the FieldFollowing a full week of classroom training, I was able to meet with small groups of the beekeepers to inspect their colonies of bee. Most of their bee hives were Kenyan top bar construction with a rather aggressive population of bees.
Beekeepers sharing their
knowledgeAfter working with the bees, checking their health and honey storage, it is always great to move away a safe distance. We can then remove out protective safety gear and share our ideas on how to become better beekeepers. Talking is a great way to share knowledge anywhere around the world.
Yes, we are nowing planning a third
trip for November 2016 to reach more beekeepers throughout the
Nyamasheke district. Donations
for this project are greatly appreciated. Please send me an EMail
for more information.