Bee Wellness
ERC’s Sustainable Apiary Model: Innovations in Bee Wellness
What is SAM?
SAM (Sustainable Apiary Model) is the innovation of ERC’s Director of Farm, Orchard & Apiary, Kate Mizenka. It is founded on scientific and holistic approaches to beekeeping that focus on innovative apiary design and ‘beyond’ organic regenerative beekeeping practices to optimize bee health, productivity, and resilience. ERC is one of the few apiaries in our region that is Certified Organic.
Sustainable Apiary Model: Introducing the Bee Barn
Meet ERC’s one-of-a-kind Bee Barn, our innovation in bee hive design!
The Bee Barn was developed to address bee health issues including overwinter mortality, climate control within the hive, and spring forage optimization. Based on scientific study and an understanding of the best elements of historical hive design, it represents an innovative step forward in beekeeping best management practices to improve bee wellness. In conjunction with the other components of ERC’s Sustainable Apiary Model, which includes optimal bee forage, innovative mite control design elements, and swarm cycle queen rearing techniques, we are recording amazing results in the improvement of bee wellness at ERC.
Here are some unique, technical features that make the Bee Barn so successful:
ERC is currently conducting studies on the success of the Bee Barn’s unique design. We are pleased to announce a 100% overwinter survival rate for the past four years in a row. We will continue to monitor and adapt the design in the next 24 months to ensure we are 100% confident it is ready to share with the world.
Check out the process behind building our one-of-a-kind Bee Barn
Sustainable Apiary Model: Integrated Varroa Mite Management
In December 2022, we wrapped up a cutting-edge research and innovation project: The Elk Root Conservation Integrated Varroa Mite Management Hive Bottom System. This project addressed the need for an effective and economical integrated hive equipment add-on application system to implement Integrated Varroa Mite Management (IVMM) in the honey bee sector across multiple hive types. Simply put, a plug-and-play piece of hive equipment for beekeepers to administer multiple types of natural, certified organic approved mite treatment products to a hive in a fast and easy way.
The prototype was completed in December 2022 and will be tested on the innovative Bee Barn and its hives that are part of the Sustainable Apiary Model (SAM) here at ERC.
Sustainable Apiary Model: Planting For Pollinators 2024
For the third year running, ERC is thrilled to offer “Part 1 of Sustainable Apiary Model: Planting for Pollinators”. This course walks students through how to plan, prepare, select, design and plant a beautiful sustainable flowering habitat that all pollinators will love and bees would thank you for! Everyone is welcome.
For more details: check out our education page here.
Funding contributions in part from: the Bee BC & Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Programs; delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
In collaboration with: Selkirk Innovates
