Buzz About Bees Tours - Afternoon Tour

Come out and visit my beehives! The Buzz about Bees experience starts off with an intro to bees talk, followed by a hive tour and beeswax candle making, all taking about 1.5 hours!

Each tour is 1.5 to 2 hours long. Timing varies a bit based on each group and how quickly we are in and out of bee suits. If you are planning a full day of activities around the area, please allow yourself 2.5 hours to provide time for washroom breaks, etc. Please take the time to read through the outline below and be aware of suggested clothing to bring with you. 

Timeline of activities:

Bee Talk: ~20 minutes - Learn about the different types of bees in the hive and what they do + how honey, wax, pollen and propolis are made. We'll take a few minutes for safety instructions before we move on to inspecting hives.
Hive inspections: ~30-40 minutes - Gear up in a bee suit and walk through a hive inspection with the beekeeper. Use what you’ve learned to try to find the queen, drones, pollen, honey, eggs, and larvae in the hive.
Candle Making: ~30 minutes - We'll show you how to make a rolled beeswax candle and several dipped taper candles to take home with you. Bee suits can get quite hot on a warm summer day, so cold water will be provided during candle making. Ask any final questions while you make your candles and learn more about the ways you can use honey and hive products in your everyday life!

I recommend that children should be 4 or older, however this is at your discretion and 2 of my children's bee suits can fit (very large) on a 2-year-old (tested out via my niece and nephews). All children will need parental/guardian assistance with putting on protective gear and the candle-making craft. 

Currently I have a variety of suit sizing as listed below, and I request that you bring (or wear) long loose pants (or jeans, but they can be hot), long socks and close-toed shoes to add to your personal protection. If you have any concerns regarding suit sizing, please reach out!

• 2 x children's suits (age 2-5)
• 2 x children's suits (age 4-8)
• 1 x adult small suit (fits kids 6+ and small teens/adults)
• 3 x adult large suits
• 3 x adult XL suits
• 3 x adult medium/large bee jackets w/ veils (you will need long socks & jeans)
• 1 x adult 3XL suit 
• 1 x adult 4XL suit
• assorted gloves to protect hands

PLEASE NOTE: This experience only runs if weather conditions are appropriate: bees are significantly more reactive when weather is grey/cloudy/windy/rainy and this will increase chance of stings. I (the beekeeper) will do my best to make a judgement call within 24 hours if the weather forecast is questionable. In the event I choose to cancel due to weather, I will notify you via e-mail as closely as 6 hours in advance of the event & the value of your ticket can be transferred in full to a store credit OR refunded, less a transaction processing fee of 5%. See Refund Policy for further details.

Please expect to sign a waiver at the beginning of the event. I maintain an adult epi-pen on site in case of emergencies. However, due to the nature of the tour, please DO NOT purchase tickets if you have a known bee sting allergy. 

Other Items You May Wish to Bring:

Cameras are welcome! Feel free to bring water bottles and snacks as well. If desired you're welcome to plan to have a picnic before/after the tour (please let me know to expect you to come early/stay late in advance), but do note that you will need to bring your own picnic blanket (and food/beverages).

Farm and Location Details to Be Aware of:

DOGS: There are two or three dogs on site (depending on which of my family are visiting on a given day), all are friendly but our youngest dog especially will bark a lot on your arrival. I like to allow the dogs to greet guests and hang out during tours and they typically calm down and wander away once they get bored. If you have a particular concern about dogs please let me know. 

TERRAIN: The farm is a working farm with various activities happening in the background; you'll need to drive past a farm equipment shop to get to the tour parking area and you may see or hear tractors or other farm vehicles. 

ACCESSIBILITY & WASHROOMS: With regards to accessibility, the lawn is not perfectly smooth, please expect to watch your step. The washroom facility includes a composting toilet system and does require travelling up a set of stairs. 

To discover more unique Perth County adventures, visit Perth County Tourism or read all about about staycations in Perth County here.