Apiary Technician – Wild Antho

Our farm is located in the beautiful fields and wild lands of the North Okanagan/Shuswap on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Syilx Nation and the Secwepemc Nation. We breed queen bees, produce bee stock, provide pollination services, and produce honey.

Our honey is raw and kept as close to its natural state every step of the way. The honey is unpasteurized to preserve the natural qualities of raw honey, and all of the subtle floral flavours. Our bee yards are primarily located on organic farms, and outlying wild lands. As third generation beekeepers our family believes in and relies on community support.

 

DESIRED QUALITIES

We are looking for individuals that are excited to work outside and with bees. Other great beneficial qualities are:

• Reliable
• Flexible to change tasks based on the needs for the day, weather conditions
• Effective verbal and written communication, leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work efficiently and safely both independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to multitask, exercise sound judgment, and solve minor problems independently.
• Must be physically fit and enjoy hard work outdoors in all weather conditions for long days.
• Have a healthy body (especially back and knees) and have the ability to lift 23 kg repetitively and 32 kg occasionally.
• Practice good self care, especially in challenging working conditions (i.e. getting enough sleep, eating well, staying hydrated, etc.)
• Come to work prepared and with appropriate gear (i.e. sturdy shoes, waterproof gear, double white socks) (We supply a bee suit)
• Have the desire to learn new skills and then improve and get faster at them with practice
• Have the ability to hustle, and work quickly and efficiently to meet deadlines
• Take and give constructive feedback well
• Are legally able to work in Canada
• Must hold a valid driver’s license

The bee farm is a dynamic, fast paced and ever-changing environment. There are daily and weekly deadlines, and work needs to be done efficiently. Because of this, we strive to improve our systems to make the work more enjoyable for all. We continue to refine and improve on these systems and welcome feedback and input from staff on an ongoing basis.

Please note that relevant experience is an asset, but is not necessary. If you do not yet have relevant experience but still feel you would be a good fit for our farm and are keen to work with us, tell us why! We are excited to hear from enthusiastic folks from various backgrounds.

 

JOB TASKS

The apiary technician will be assessing the health of hives, checking for mite infestations, monitoring and treating hives when health problems arise, queen catching, dividing hives, moving hives, removing and extracting honey, and maintaining detailed records (health, treatments, and production). Apiary technicians are also required to drive trucks, maintain bee equipment, operate small engine equipment such as sugar pumps, grass trimmers and bee blowers. We hope the successful candidate will bring a positive attitude and willingness to learn to learn each day.

Work requires:

• A combination of sitting, standing, and walking
• Ability to work at length in crouching or bent positions
• Lifting 23 kg repetitively and 32 kg occasionally

As the bee season is variable, so are the jobs on the farm!

 

Term: Start Mid-April onward (flexible) for the summer ending August or September.

Hours per week: We work variable hours including early starts. We strive to work 40h/wk but there are weeks with more.

Wage: Wage is $22+/hour, negotiable based on experience and aptitude. We offer wage/performance reviews after 6 weeks, and increases during the season are possible with demonstration of improved skill and performance. There are also day bonus paid based on quality and quantity.

We also offer an End of Season Bonus for staff that complete their seasonal contract. This is calculated as an additional 6% pay, for staff who work from start date to September.

How to apply: Please email your resume and cover letter to hello@wildantho.com