Pembroke
House Bee
- Joined
- May 11, 2019
- Messages
- 375
- Reaction score
- 218
- Location
- Carmarthen
- Hive Type
- Commercial
- Number of Hives
- None
When I give a talk first question is "are there any beekeepers in the room", hopefully the answer will be no. This then leads into the talk, if you get a yes, you might get a discussion with said beekeeper if you say something they don't think is correct. Try to avoid such a situation. As already said you're there as entertainment, not an in depth talk about beekeeping. If they want that enrol them on your associations beginners course.
Our association has a display hive, with photos in the frames instead of wax, I think it came from Thornes a while ago, but fairly simple to make if you're going to do a lot of talks. It's then a simple matter to dress an audience member in a bee suit (we use atop half smock rather than a full suit) and 'teach' them how to do an inspection. We quite often do a spot the honey bee competition, with a page of bumbles, solitaries, wasps, hoverfly photos. Best answers gets a prize. The WI themselves usually organise a competition and ask you to judge it. Good luck with that.
If you're any good then word of mouth should see you get more invites as all these groups are crying out for winter speakers.
As for payment, some WI's insist on expenses, we as an association get an agreement to sell members honey (we have a couple of bee farmers who can supply a few jars most of the year). Then add a premium on the price.
You may find the WI suggests to you things they want you to talk about.
Most of all though keep it light, not too technical. Try not to use jargon, not everyone knows what forage is, or where an apiary can be found.
If you do tasting try to buy a jar of Rowse or supermarket honey local to you and local to them. Ask them to tell you the difference (there shouldn't be any) then ask them to taste two honeys from different years or from close local beekeepers so they can see that a very small variation makes a big difference to the taste of a locally produced honey.
Our association has a display hive, with photos in the frames instead of wax, I think it came from Thornes a while ago, but fairly simple to make if you're going to do a lot of talks. It's then a simple matter to dress an audience member in a bee suit (we use atop half smock rather than a full suit) and 'teach' them how to do an inspection. We quite often do a spot the honey bee competition, with a page of bumbles, solitaries, wasps, hoverfly photos. Best answers gets a prize. The WI themselves usually organise a competition and ask you to judge it. Good luck with that.
If you're any good then word of mouth should see you get more invites as all these groups are crying out for winter speakers.
As for payment, some WI's insist on expenses, we as an association get an agreement to sell members honey (we have a couple of bee farmers who can supply a few jars most of the year). Then add a premium on the price.
You may find the WI suggests to you things they want you to talk about.
Most of all though keep it light, not too technical. Try not to use jargon, not everyone knows what forage is, or where an apiary can be found.
If you do tasting try to buy a jar of Rowse or supermarket honey local to you and local to them. Ask them to tell you the difference (there shouldn't be any) then ask them to taste two honeys from different years or from close local beekeepers so they can see that a very small variation makes a big difference to the taste of a locally produced honey.
