Are you bee curious and eager to learn more about honey production and beekeeping? Phil’s Honey is excited to offer a hands-on apprenticeship opportunity just for you!
About the Farm
Phil’s Honey located near Starbuck, Manitoba (25 minute drive, west of Winnipeg) – Treaty 1 Territory
Phil’s Honey is 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.Norbert’s Farmer’s Market.
Please visit philshoney.com for more information!
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, traveling to apiary sites in the Starbuck area to keep their hives healthy and happy.
As part of the apprenticeship, you will meet with other apprentices across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba who are part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program. Field days, learning opportunities and potlucks will be planned with the Manitoba group at each host’s farm. You will also be invited to attend a regenerative or organic food conference during or following the apprenticeship.
About the mentors
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.
Tim Veldhuis, Phil’s son, has been helping with the bees since childhood. He has recently completed his engineering degree at the University of Manitoba. He manages the honey processing during harvest season.
Vona Guiler manages the financial and hr portions of the business.
Please check out their youtube channel: @philbeeman if you want to know more about the or the bees.
Skills this farm has to teach:
The following skills are being offered by this farm. While you’ll get exposure to many of these areas, it is likely that not all will be covered. Apprentices will work to identify the skills they want to develop to a learning plan with the host farm.
| BeeKEEPING Management | Machinery Maintenance |
|---|---|
| HOney Production & Processing | FORAGE QUALITY & QUANTITY ASSESSMENT |
| DIRECT SALES & MARKETING | Community Collaboration |
Skills Required of the Apprentice
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.
Housing, Wages, and Duration
- The apprentice will be responsible for their own accommodation.
A vehicle can be provided for commuting to and from work.
Laundry for work clothes and WIFI available on site.
Hourly wage of $17.00/hr.
40 hours work/week with 2 days off per week.
Ideal Duration: May 1st to September 15th
Lunch is typically eaten in the field.
About the Community and Land
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!”
Our 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!
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.
More Details about this Apprenticeship and How to Apply
Applications due: January 31st, 2025
Contact Jenn Sparling – Manitoba Apprenticeship Coordinator for questions:
jennifer@youngagrarians.org
Interested in an Apprenticeship but this isn’t quite the right one? Check out other Young Agrarians Apprenticeships being offered in 2025 here.