When I started keeping bees in 2010, I didn't have much money to spend on bees and equipment, and I was adamantly opposed to putting pesticides in my hives, despite everyone telling me I should. I also felt there had to be a simpler, more natural way to keep bees. One that didn't require expensive commercial equipment, heavy lifting, treatments, or constant intervention.
 
Sixteen years without treatments and hundreds of colonies later, I believe that more than ever.
 
I've learned the most from the best beekeepers there are: the bees themselves! Much of what I do today is about sharing those lessons, questioning conventional beekeeping practices, and challenging the notion that there's only one right way to keep bees, with Langstroth hives, expensive equipment, and routine treatments. I want to help others discover that beekeeping can be a whole lot simpler, lighter, more affordable, and more accessible than they've been led to believe.
 
So let's rethink beekeeping, be a little rebellious, question what we've been told, and let the bees teach us a thing or two.

After all, there's always room for a few more independent thinkers at the back of the bus with the cool kids!
 
My goal isn't just to teach people how to keep bees successfully without treatments. It's to encourage them to think differently about beekeeping, trust the bees a little more, connect the dots so it all finally makes sense, and find an approach that works best for both the bees and the beekeeper.
​
Nathalie B.
Master Craftsman Beekeeper | Founder, Bee Mindful