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February 2024 by Melody Burns
Awesome Beekeeping classes and supplies! Love these folks!!
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January 2024 by Darin Duvall
So many great things to say about Nathalie and Les. I learned so much in the apprenticeship program. A perfect combination of hands-on and classroom work. I have purchased healthy, chemical-free bees from Nathalie as well as top bar hives where my bees can thrive. Nathalie has always been generous with her time - answering questions and giving great advice. It's no wonder that people travel from out of state to attend the apprenticeship program.
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November 2023 by Edina Toth
I recently came back to Texas from New York to take additional treatment-free natural beekeeping workshop with Nathalie B. and Les Crowder. It’s an absolute privilege to have them both as my mentors.Throughout this intensive three-day program, their engaging lectures and hands-on guidance provided me with a deeper understanding of sustainable beekeeping principles and practices. As a seasoned beekeeper, I found immense value in their workshop, which is a testament to their expertise and teaching abilities.During the workshop, Nathalie and Les shared valuable insights, including but not limited to their expertise in building "Les-Is-More" horizontal hives and NUC boxes for splits and queen rearing. Their approach emphasizes the importance of creating a bee-centric environment while keeping intervention, allowing beekeepers to maintain successful treatment-free colonies while prioritizing the health of the bees.I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire team involved in organizing this workshop. The logistics, arrangements, and overall support were exceptional, creating a comfortable and conducive learning environment.Thank you, Nathalie and Les, for providing such a transformative hands-on experience, including top bar hives building and assembling. I’m leaving the workshop feeling inspired, empowered, and equipped with valuable knowledge to enhance my own beekeeping journey.Les and Nathalie’s dedication to promoting treatment-free natural practices and their contributions to the beekeeping community are truly remarkable. Not only are they my mentors, but they are also friends and role models whom I greatly admire and look up to. I’m absolutely grateful for the opportunity to learn from both of them and my fellow Texan beekeepers!! ????
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November 2023 by Konrad Bouffard
Natalie is a wonderful teacher. We hosted her at our Honey house to learn about top bar hives for two weekends. The response from the public was very strong. If you’re looking for an expert in top bar beekeeping, Natalie, and Beemindful is a good choice!
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October 2023 by Michael Munsell
I highly recommend the apprenticeship program with Bee Mindful. Nathalie and Les are great teachers. They have a wealth of beekeeping knowledge and experience, which they share with great enthusiasm. The program provides a good mix of hands-on and classroom learning. Well worth the money. Thank you!
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July 2023 by Tiffany Harelik
The apprenticeship through Bee Mindful with Nathalie and Les has been the most significant (and fun!) way to get hands on experience and learn bee biology. My goals were to learn treatment free beekeeping and they far exceeded the other classes I have taken. From sharing science to tradition and practical hands on experience- this is where to invest your time, heart, and money - especially as a new beekeeper.
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June 2023 by Wendy Loftus
I learned so much from Natalie! I really enjoyed these classes. Natalie has a great teaching style and her classes are casual and comfortable enough to ask questions (no matter how basic) and learn from one another. I have had bees for 3 years and have read and listened to podcasts and even taken beekeeping 101 and 202 before but I learned so much in these classes! Thank you Natalie!
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March 2023 by The Stache
I took this class bee keeping 101 on the 18th of February. I'm disappointed there was no time to ask any questions. It was very rushed and discombobulated. I did not learn any new knowledge that I didn't read the day before. I could've taught the class. Very disappointed is the only thing I can think of what to say. Not worth the 45$.
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March 2023 by Nivien Saleh
I just completed Bee Mindful’s six-month beekeeping apprenticeship. Once a month I made the trip from Houston to Austin to shadow Nathalie and Les as they worked with bees. On one occasion they opened a hopelessly cross-combed Langstroth hive (yes, that’s right), deconstructed the entire comb and put it back together in beautiful order on rescue bars in a top bar hive. Les was working without gloves and had many bees on him. But because he was so slow and gentle they remained calm and did not sting him. It was amazing to watch. Thank you, Nathalie and Les, for teaching me how I, too, can manage bees gently and respectfully!
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March 2023 by Ferhat Ozturk
The beekeeping apprenticeship program is the best in its class.Both hands on and in class experiences contribute immensely to the journey of beekeeping.Both Nathalie and Les have significant knowledge about honeybees, beehives, super organism, treatment-free pest management..
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March 2023 by Mary Jo Hansen
If you are interested in a grounded, common sense approach that cuts through the clutter of “modern” beekeeping by honoring the nature of the honeybee, Bee Mindful. As a Bee Mindful Apprentice — so much time spent in the bee yards is SO VALUABLE— I’ve learned from Nathalie and Les the most important lesson. Let the bees be bees! As beekeepers, we need the bees, the bees don’t need us! Keep bees as close to nature as possible, honor THEIR nature, and they will reward you in an abundance of ways.
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March 2022 by whitney brandon
Working with Nathalie of Bee Mindful was a Bee•utiful experience! Nathalie's knowledge, skills, kindness, enthusiasm for teaching, and "let's do this" spirit made learning fun, exciting, and super informative! Her hands-on approach gave me the confidence + understanding needed to start my beekeeping journey, and I can't wait for the next lesson!
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March 2022 by Kimberly Meyer
The Natural Beekeeping 303 class was a joy. Listening to Les Crowder, a treasure for our Texas community, was deeply moving and inspiring. And watching him work the top bar hives was a lesson in patience and attention. Thank you Bee Mindful! We are so lucky to have you all doing this work!
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March 2022 by Douglas Soltesz
The owners really care about bees. If you're looking into backyard beekeeping, their educational series covers how to care for the hives without chemicals treatments. They offer their knowledge freely on social media and can teach you how to get started economically. Thank you Les and Nathalie!
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March 2021 by Tara Beck
This business has helped me so much getting started with Beekeeping. They sell top bar hives and offer classes on how to build your own. They sell treatment free mite resistant strong genetics bees, and offer classes to teach how to avoid common mistakes and learn how to understand your colonies and how best to support them. I feel so lucky I found them before I started Beekeeping so I was able to learn the best most Bee-centric practices and hive management. I can’t recommend them highly enough!
