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: 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 2023
For the second year running, ERC is thrilled to partner with Selkirk College to teach “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
