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Are you an aspiring beekeeper? Are you interested in working with honey bees and learning about direct marketing? Phil’s Honey in Starbuck , Manitoba might be the place for you!
About the Farm
Phil’s Honey is located in Treaty 1 Territory, on the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Red River Métis. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration.
Phil’s Honey is located near Starbuck, Manitoba (25 minute drive, west of Winnipeg). They are a family business going back over a hundred years! Phil Veldhuis took over his grandmother’s hives in 1984, and the rest is history. Both Phil and life-partner Vona Guiler come from beekeeping families. They have now have over 1200 hives producing about 250 barrels of honey annually. The majority of honey is sold in bulk, with the highest quality honey reserved for local customers and sold at the St. Norberts Farmer’s Market.
Website: https://www.philshoney.com/
About the Farmers
Phil is an enthusiastic teacher of all things beekeeping. He is an active leader in the farm community, serving on boards such as BeeMaid honey, Manitoba Beekeepers Association, St. Norbert Farmers Market, and Direct Farm Manitoba. Phil has been teaching philosophy courses at the University of Manitoba for 25 years, and has been an instructor at the University of Manitoba School of Agriculture.
Vona Guiler manages the financial and HR portions of the business.
Please check out their YouTube channel if you want to know more about the farm or the bees.
About the Apprenticeship
You do not need any prior beekeeping knowledge or experience. All skills and knowledge will be communicated on the job. Over the course of the season you will do a variety of tasks including hive maintenance, bee health assessments and inspections, apiary hygiene, colony building and splitting, queen raising, honey extraction, feeding and winter preparation.
You will work as part of a team that includes family members Phil, Vona, and his son Tim. They work daily as a team, travelling to apiary sites in the Starbuck area to keep their hives healthy and happy.
The ideal duration of employment: May 1st to September 15th
The job requirements are:
- A willingness to learn! Phil is eager to give back to beekeeping as it has made everything possible for him.
- A valid full Class 5 driver’s license is essential – Phil’s Honey is willing to provide a vehicle for commuting.
- The apprentice will be responsible for their own accommodation.
- A vehicle can be potentially be provided for commuting to and from work.
- Laundry for work clothes and WIFI available on site.
- 40 hours work/week with 2 days off per week.
- Lunch is typically eaten in the field.
- Able to do physical work all day long and can lift 30lbs minimum
Apprentices are willing to learn these skills:
- Observing energy flow
- Assessing forage quality & health of pasture
- Truck & tractor troubleshooting & maintenance
- Finding a learning community
- Sharing talents & skills with community
- Beekeeping management
- Honey production
Compensation
Hourly wage of $17.00/hr.
About the Community
The farm is located a 25 minute drive west of Winnipeg Manitoba in Starbuck, Manitoba. As Phil says “it’s just far enough outside the city to have our own share of the country, but you can still drive to the city to see a good music show!”
The bees are hosted by local landowners who generously provide sites and access for the apiaries. We expect everyone on our team to treat these sites with respect. We maintain about 30 sites each year.
In the fall of 2024, Phil’s Honey held their 10th annual Bee Party to celebrate the end of the harvest season, and to thank the people who eat the honey and farmers who host the bees. Check out the festivities here!
Accommodation
No accommodation available. Apprentices will have to commute to and from work.
Phil and the team look forward to seeing you!