Speaking Opportunities for Bee Clubs
Speaking Opportunities for Bee Clubs
Practical, engaging presentations created especially for fellow beekeepers and local bee clubs.
Some of my favorite opportunities are the ones that let me spend time with other beekeepers.
Bee clubs have played an important role in my own growth as a beekeeper, and I’m always happy to give back when I can. I offer several presentations and discussion-based programs created specifically for bee clubs, beekeeping associations and beekeeper education groups.
These programs can be offered in person or virtually, depending on the topic, location and schedule.
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Beekeeping as a Side Hustle: Helping Your Bees Pay for Themselves
Practical entrepreneurial ideas for beekeepers who would like to offset the cost of keeping bees.
Beekeeping is not usually a get-rich-quick venture—and most of us aren't retiring on honey sales anytime soon.
But that doesn't mean your bees can't help pay for themselves.
This presentation is designed for beekeepers who want to think a little more entrepreneurially about their apiary and explore realistic ways to offset equipment, feed, treatment and other beekeeping expenses through honey, hive products, education and creative partnerships.
We’ll talk about practical ideas including:
- How to price honey and other hive products with your actual costs in mind
- Ways to increase the perceived value of the honey you already produce
- Where and how to sell beyond simply putting jars on a table
- Ideas for additional products, experiences and services connected to beekeeping
- How packaging and presentation can influence what customers are willing to pay
- Where to advertise and how to make better use of social media
- Helping customers understand why local and varietal honey have value
- Educating the public about honey, bees and beekeeping as part of your sales strategy
- Finding community organizations, businesses and other partners who can help expand your reach
- Creative collaborations, events and educational opportunities
- Turning your own knowledge and interests into additional sources of revenue
- Knowing when an idea actually makes financial sense — and when it doesn't
We'll also talk about one of the biggest shifts a beekeeper can make:
Stop thinking only about what your bees produce and start thinking about what you know because you keep bees.
Honey may be the most obvious product, but education, experiences, partnerships, seasonal offerings and other creative opportunities can all become part of a small beekeeping side business.
This isn't a presentation about becoming a commercial beekeeper or building a million-dollar honey company.
It's about finding realistic, approachable ways to make beekeeping more financially sustainable, recover some of the money you're already investing and maybe even fund the next stack of boxes, treatment or package of bees.
Perfect for hobby and sideliner beekeepers who are curious about the business side of the bee yard.
Available in person or virtually.
How to Create an Engaging Bee Club
Ideas for recruiting members, engaging the community, increasing participation and creating a club people want to stay involved with.
Healthy bee clubs are about much more than monthly meetings.
This presentation explores practical ways clubs can create stronger member engagement, welcome new beekeepers and build a culture that encourages people to participate rather than simply attend.
Topics may include:
- Recruiting new members
- Welcoming beginners without losing experienced members
- Creating meaningful volunteer opportunities
- Increasing participation at meetings and events
- Developing educational programming people actually want to attend
- Building community within the club
- Keeping members engaged between meetings
- Using social media and communication more effectively
- Creating opportunities for members to contribute their skills
- Recognizing volunteers and encouraging future leadership
This presentation works especially well for club boards, officers and associations looking to strengthen participation or rethink how they engage their membership.
It can also become a very interactive conversation where club members share what has worked in their own organization.
Available in person or virtually.
Honey Tasting for Bee Clubs
A beekeeper-focused introduction to honey sensory evaluation and the world beyond “sweet.”
This presentation grew out of my own experience studying with the American Honey Tasting Society and earning my Level 1 Honey Sommelier certification.
I share a little about the certification process, what led me to pursue honey sensory education and how learning to intentionally taste honey has changed the way I think about nectar sources, terroir, beekeeping and the honey our colonies produce.
We’ll explore some of the fundamentals of honey tasting, including:
- Honey color
- Aroma
- Texture
- Flavor
- Finish
- Floral and environmental influences
- How varietal honeys can differ from one another
- How sensory evaluation can help beekeepers better understand and talk about their own honey
A small guided tasting can be included as part of the program.
Make It a Club Tasting
Club members are encouraged to bring honey from their own apiaries so we can taste, compare and talk about what makes each one different.
For clubs that want to make the evening more interactive, we can also create a larger Honey Tasting Table where members contribute local honey, varietal honey or interesting honey they have collected during their travels.
This can be as simple or as elaborate as your club wants to make it.
Best suited for in-person meetings, although portions of the educational presentation can also be offered virtually.
Bee Club Brainstorming & Consultation
Not a presentation — just an opportunity to help your club think bigger.
Sometimes a bee club doesn’t need another speaker.
It needs fresh ideas.
I’m happy to spend time with newer clubs, club boards or leadership teams that want to brainstorm ways to build momentum, fundraise, increase visibility or create more opportunities for members to participate.
These conversations can include:
- Club marketing and community visibility
- Social media ideas
- Member recruitment
- Volunteer opportunities
- Educational programming
- Community events
- Fundraising ideas
- Partnerships with schools, nonprofits and community organizations
- Ways to engage beginner and experienced beekeepers
- Creating signature events or programs for your club
This is meant to be a relaxed, collaborative conversation to help get the creative juices flowing and uncover ideas that fit the personality and resources of your particular club.
Consultations can be held virtually or in person.
Speaking Fees for Bee Clubs
Bee clubs are near and dear to my heart, and I do not charge a standard speaking fee for beekeeper associations or bee clubs.
If your club has a speaker honorarium or would like to provide a gratuity, it is always sincerely appreciated but never expected.
For in-person programs located more than approximately 30 miles from Lancaster, South Carolina, help with mileage or travel expenses is greatly appreciated.
And if your club wants to send me home with a little piece of your local beekeeping community, I will never turn down a small collection of local honey, member-made products or other goodies from your area. I am a sucker for homemade baked goods and farm fresh produce!
Those kinds of gifts are often more meaningful to me than a traditional speaker fee.
The most important thing is the opportunity to connect with fellow beekeepers, exchange ideas and support strong local beekeeping communities.
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Invite Me to Speak at Your Bee Club
If your club is looking for a speaker, workshop, honey tasting or brainstorming session, I’d love to hear from you.
Email Hello@thegiddybee.com with:
- Your club or association name
- Your location
- Your preferred date or dates
- Which presentation or program interests you
- Whether you are looking for an in-person or virtual program
We’ll go from there and figure out what works best for your club.