My mentor moved away and I feel a bit lost — how do you keep learning solo?
Bit of a soft question tonight. I'm five years in, out in rural Quebec, and the man who taught me everything — 40 years of beekeeping, could read a frame like a newspaper — just moved across the country to be near his grandkids. Helped him load the truck on Saturday and I've been a little heartsick since.
I realise how much of my beekeeping was 'ask Gérard'. Weird brood pattern? Ask Gérard. When to super? Ask Gérard.
So, those of you who learned mostly alone: what actually moved the needle? Books, courses, associations, just making mistakes? I want a plan that isn't 'panic-google at the hive with propolis on my phone'.
#mentorship#learning#community#books
▲ 26 votes💬 5 replies
5 replies
GeorgiaWes · Jul 1, 2026
22 years in and I still miss my old mentor, so first: that heartsick feeling is the good kind, it means you were taught well. What worked for me solo: keep written records of EVERY inspection, because the notebook slowly becomes your mentor — patterns jump out after a season. And join your local association even if the meetings are 50% coffee and gossip. The other 50% is gold.
LavenderSophie · Jul 2, 2026
Books, chosen well, are mentors that never move away. Seeley's Honeybee Democracy changed how I think about swarms more than any person did — it's about how the swarm decides, and you come out understanding bees as a whole organism. The Beekeeper's Handbook (Sammataro & Avitabile) is the practical one I still open. One deep book per winter is my rule.
NalediBees · Jul 2, 2026
It's winter here in Mpumalanga so I'm in my reading-and-planning season while my hives cluster — and honestly, winter study is how I replaced my mentor when he retired. My other trick: photograph every frame that confuses you. Post it somewhere like this forum the same evening. You effectively get twelve mentors arguing politely over your photo, which is better than one.
MayaBees · Jul 2, 2026
Fifth-year here and honestly this app/forum has become my Gérard. The regulars will tell you when you're wrong, kindly, which is the actual thing a mentor does. Also: teach a beginner as soon as you can. Nothing exposes the holes in your knowledge like someone asking you 'but why?' three times in a row.
QuebecBees · Jul 2, 2026
This thread is exactly what I needed — merci, tout le monde. Ordered Honeybee Democracy tonight, emailed the Fédération des apiculteurs about the fall course, and I'm starting a proper inspection notebook this weekend. Gérard gets a photo update every month whether he likes it or not.