The A, Bees, C’s of Learning with the Hive

September 14, 2025

In April 2025, Green Chimneys horticulture staff introduced two active Carniolan beehives at Boni-Bel Farm. Known for their gentle nature, adaptability to cooler climates, and reduced swarming tendencies, Carniolan bees are ideal for education. The hives give students a rare chance to learn beekeeping firsthand while exploring the production of honey, beeswax, and pollen.

For Boni-Bel Farmer Lorie Dommermuth, the fascination with bees never fades. “Everything about them is interesting, especially the way they work together as a unit with such precision,” Lorie shares. “On summer days, you can even see trails in the air as they come and go, perfectly showing each other to where they need to be.”

Then, Lorie guided students through the honey-harvesting process step by step. She began by pulling frames that held more honey than the colony needs to survive the winter. Next, she demonstrated how to uncap the wax honeycomb with a knife so the honey could drain. As the honey flowed, students noticed its many shades and learned that color depends on the flowers the bees have pollinated. Tasting side by side, they discovered subtle differences in flavor before turning to create new frames to return to the hives.

What began as an introduction to beekeeping has become a lesson in science, stewardship, and discovery. And as students continue caring for the hives through the seasons, they’ll carry forward not just the sweetness of honey but also the confidence of knowing they can help sustain these extraordinary pollinators.