Welcome to Ephemeral! This is the home site of me, Ben Hoksch, a foraging instructor, local food provider, and general Iowa enthusiast amongst other things. With this site I intend to share how I move through the seasons by creating local products and experiences that capture the fleeting nature of our unique environment. I hope that through providing this I can make Iowa a better place and honor the ancient connection to land that binds us all together.
Professional Honey Bee Removal Education
I have been performing cutouts from structures and trees for 5 years now. In 2023 I was asked to put together an educational course for a local beekeeping club. The course was a success, introducing over a dozen participants to the basics of removing a honeybee colony from a structure. From initial assessment to cleanup.
Courses can be in person, or online.
Honey Bee cut out
Overview:
This course is a great introduction to removing honey bee colonies from structures or trees. It can be scheduled any time of year, depending on your location. In Iowa this usually lies between April and September. This course is for all experience levels, and focuses on assessing colonies for removal, tips and tricks to make removals go smoothly, and efficient cleanup. This course is built on the concepts i’ve learned from 5 years of trial and error. For anyone looking to get into the business, or just looking for novel information related to how colonies are structured or respond to intense manipulations, this course will not disappoint.
Location:
Locations are variable. If you have a bee club that would like to schedule a course, you may know a local landowner that has a colony that needs removed. I have a list of removals to accomplish every year, and many of them are hosted by landowners that allow other participants. If a course is scheduled at a landowners residence, the removal is done for free, and my wages are collected from the participants.
Duration:
Course will last 4+ hours.
Tuition:
Entirely dependent on amount of participants. Minimum fee of 400$. An additional fee may be required for travel outside of Ames and will align with state standards. Inquire for a quote.
***Prices listed are a guideline for organizations and private persons looking to book an event. Many organizations have their own pricing structures, and these organizations are encouraged to follow their own business model. Tuition is available on a sliding scale for persons unable to afford this course. Please contact me for more information.
