Hive to Apothecary Workshop

Saturday, May 29th, 2027
10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Bentonville, Virginia

Spend the day with me here at The Honeystead as we journey from the beehive to the apothecary, exploring the incredible gifts of the honey bee and learning how to turn them into sweet medicine.

As a beekeeper and herbalist, one of my greatest joys has been discovering just how beautifully these two worlds come together.

For thousands of years, people have worked with honey, beeswax, propolis, and other gifts of the hive. And when we begin combining these ingredients with medicinal herbs, we open the door to an entirely different side of the home apothecary.

This hands-on workshop is all about experiencing that connection firsthand.

We'll begin our day in the apiary, where you'll have the opportunity to suit up, step inside the world of the honey bee, and join me as we open and inspect active beehives.

We'll talk about the fascinating lives of honey bees, the work happening inside a colony, and the incredible substances they produce.

Then we'll make our way into the apothecary, where we'll take inspiration from the hive and begin crafting our own sweet medicine using honey, beeswax, propolis, and medicinal herbs.

No beekeeping or herbal experience is needed. Just come curious and ready to learn!

What We'll Spend the Day Learning

During the workshop, we'll talk about:

• The fascinating world of honey bees and how a colony functions
• What to look for during a beehive inspection
• Understanding the roles of the queen, workers, and drones
• How honey bees collect nectar, pollen, and plant resins
• The differences between honey, beeswax, propolis, bee pollen, and other hive products
• The traditional medicinal uses of the gifts of the hive
• How honey bees and medicinal herbs work together
• Different ways to incorporate hive products into your home apothecary
• How to prepare herbal-infused honey and other honey-based remedies
• Working with beeswax to create herbal salves and balms
• Understanding propolis and its traditional uses
• How to safely prepare, label, and store your homemade herbal creations

And most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to experience a working apiary, inspect active beehives alongside me, and then head into the apothecary to craft your own sweet medicine from the hive.

My hope is that you leave with a greater appreciation for honey bees, a better understanding of the incredible gifts they provide, and the confidence to begin incorporating those gifts into your own home apothecary.

A Morning in the Apiary

There is something incredibly special about opening a beehive and seeing the inner workings of a honey bee colony.

The sound of thousands of bees moving across the frames, the smell of warm beeswax and honey, and the remarkable organization happening inside the hive never cease to amaze me.

We'll begin our day by getting familiar with the apiary, discussing basic bee biology, and learning what goes into caring for healthy colonies.

You'll have the opportunity to wear protective beekeeping equipment and join me as we open and inspect active hives.

We'll look at the different stages of brood development, learn how to recognize stored honey and pollen, explore the beautiful structure of beeswax comb, and talk about what a beekeeper looks for when evaluating a colony.

We'll also discuss how honey bees interact with the plants growing around us and why I often refer to bees as nature's original herbalists.

Because when you begin to understand what bees are gathering from the plants around them, you start to see the hive in an entirely different way.

Our time inside the hives will depend on weather and colony conditions, always keeping the well-being of the bees and our guests first.

From the Hive to the Apothecary

After spending time with the bees, we'll head into the apothecary to explore how the gifts of the hive can become part of our everyday herbal preparations.

This is where my love of beekeeping and herbalism truly comes together.

We'll explore the differences between honey, beeswax, propolis, and other hive products, discussing their unique properties and how they have traditionally been used.

You'll learn how to combine honey with medicinal herbs to create beautiful herbal-infused honeys, how beeswax can transform infused oils into nourishing salves, and how different hive ingredients can be incorporated into practical home apothecary preparations.

We'll also talk about the importance of selecting quality ingredients, understanding appropriate preparation methods, and knowing when certain hive products may not be suitable for everyone.

And then we'll get to work!

You'll have the opportunity to create a variety of sweet herbal preparations using ingredients from the hive and herbs from the apothecary.

I want you to leave understanding not only how to follow a recipe, but why we're choosing certain ingredients and how they work together.

Crafting Sweet Medicine

One of my favorite things about working with the gifts of the hive is how versatile they are.

A jar of honey can become an herbal-infused honey, an oxymel, or the foundation for an electuary.

Beeswax can be combined with herbal-infused oils to create beautiful salves and balms.

Propolis offers an entirely different opportunity to explore the relationship between bees, plants, and traditional herbal preparations.

During our workshop, we'll explore several of these preparations, and you'll have the opportunity to make your own creations to bring home.

We'll discuss how to properly prepare, store, and use the different products, along with ways to continue experimenting with herbs and hive ingredients in your own kitchen.

My hope is that you'll begin looking at the gifts of the hive as more than simply honey for your tea.

There is an entire apothecary waiting to be discovered inside a beehive.

This Workshop Is For You If...

You've always been fascinated by honey bees and would love the opportunity to experience a working apiary.

Maybe you're already a beekeeper and want to learn more about using the products your colonies provide.

Or perhaps you enjoy herbalism and want to explore the beautiful connection between medicinal herbs and the gifts of the hive.

You do not need to be a beekeeper.

You do not need to be an herbalist.

You do not need any previous experience.

Whether you're just beginning or looking to expand your knowledge, this workshop is designed to help you feel more comfortable working with the incredible gifts of the honey bee.

Come as you are.

Workshop Details

Date: Saturday, May 29th, 2027
Time: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: The Honeystead — Bentonville, Virginia

This is a hands-on workshop, and we'll spend part of our day outdoors in the apiary before heading inside to the apothecary.

Protective beekeeping equipment will be provided for our time with the bees. Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and clothing appropriate for spending time outdoors.

Important: This workshop includes close contact with live honey bees, and there is a possibility of being stung even while wearing protective equipment. If you have a known or suspected allergy to bee stings, please contact me before registering to discuss whether this workshop is appropriate for you. Participants should also be aware that we'll be working with honey, propolis, beeswax, and other bee-derived ingredients.

Full workshop details, including the exact location, what to bring, and any additional information for the day, will be sent by email after registration.

If you register and do not receive your workshop information, please email kaylee@thehoneystead.com with the subject line COURSE DETAILS.

A Day at The Honeystead

These workshops are intentionally kept small, hands-on, and personal.

My hope is that you leave with more than a few jars of sweet medicine and recipes written in a notebook.

I want you to leave with a greater appreciation for the honey bee, an understanding of the incredible gifts found within the hive, and the confidence to begin working with those ingredients in your own home apothecary.

After more than a decade of keeping bees, I still find myself learning something new from them. And one of my favorite things is getting to share that experience with others.

There is something truly special about spending the morning surrounded by honey bees and the afternoon turning their incredible gifts into something useful.

Come spend the day with me here at The Honeystead.

We'll suit up, open beehives, explore the fascinating world of honey bees, and then head into the apothecary to craft sweet medicine together.

And hopefully, you'll leave seeing the honey bee as so much more than a producer of honey.

Reserve Your Spot

Cancellation Policy: Because workshop space is limited and supplies are prepared in advance, cancellations made within 14 days of the workshop are non-refundable. Full workshop details and cancellation information will be sent by email after registration.