When The Bugle approached owner Elizabeth Burnett about the school holiday program held at Burnetts on Barney, she was very positive about it and invited us to join the event, to witness bee waggles, taste honey, and photograph the immersion experience.

Rachael with the children in the group session devouring their honey spoons - straight from the hive!

The scene was set with the enthusiastic Apiarist Rachael Peedom and her daughter commandeering an area of the complex to enlighten enthusiastic parents and children about the importance of bees. 

Apart from tasting the bees' honey fresh from the Burnetts onsite hives, the children donned beekeeper suits and got up close and personal. On the agenda was honeybee anatomy, pollination, bee life cycles and how bees make honey.  

The children learn why it is crucial to keep planting as many flowering plants as we can to ensure all our native and honeybees survive.

Homeschooling parents from Wollongong, Brendon and Christie brought their children along to join in the activity that is running through the school holidays.

Rachael has been running workshops at Burnetts over the past 18 months and has endless enquiries from parents. She has told her family that holidays are on the back burner for them as she caters to the public interest. Her daughters help with the workshops and her husband does the heavy lifting.

She developed her interest in bees whilst she was studying as a mature age student at Wollongong University. The nutrition and science course consisted of Food Security modules that peaked her interest in that with no pollinators there is a knock-on effect. She has a passion about educating others and she says the pursuit is highly addictive.

Rachael says that children are like sponges with soaking up new knowledge and are an absolute delight to be with. “They ask the best questions!”

She has just recently installed a hive in Kiama Public school and the integrated lessons include children working outside with her in bee suits and with the teacher in the classroom. She hopes to get more hives in school going forward. 

There were a variety of ages of children that joined in the experience. With the stark quarry background one would be forgiven if some of the footage looked like the kids could be on another planet! Certainly, the dance moves and buzzing would indicate other creatures.

‘Bee-inspired’ which is an initiative by Rachael, offers workshops, beekeeping and honey sales plus private coaching to help get you started in the beekeeping game. They can help you reach your goal of pollinating your veggie garden, produce honey, make beeswax candles, start a new career, or help save the planet! 

For more information check out the Bee-inspired website.