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This past month, we trained 9 HAFA members in beekeeping. They went through two trainings, painted their hives and then I worked with all the members to start their hives. Their dedication and devotion to learning how to keep bees on the farm has been an exciting surprise!
Last year I went through extensive training with the Bee Lab at the University of Minnesota to be able to develop our HAFA beekeeping program and give HAFA farmers the information they need to train the next person. So the trainer trains the trainee to be a trainer.
We tend the bees unveiled and unsuited. Most people wear a bee suit, hat and veil. But I am proud to say that many of HAFA farmers are comfortable enough around bees without protective gear. This shows that they are confident in tending the bees without harming them.
There’s a misconception about honeybees in the media and society. The bees we keep on the farm are a European species which are scientifically known as Apis mellifera ligustica. They are some of most gentle bees. These bees can tolerant northern climates and produce massive honey.
Many people ask why we keep bees on the farm. Our intention is to pollinate the fields and help restore the colonies because we are committed to preserving nature’s key species. The bee population has been decimated over many decades due to heavy use of chemicals, parasitic mites, loss of natural habitation and diseases. Without bees we would not be able to eat 1/3 of our diet. Not only us but other natural beings like deer, bats, birds, and insects that are all part of the ecosystem depend on pollination. What would the world look like if fruits and vegetables didn’t exist in our diet?
With the days starting to get longer, I am reminded of how soon the HAFA Farm will open. Coordinating the farmer trainings during these winter months has shown me how critical it is for farmers of all ages and backgrounds to pursue community and knowledge with other growers. On top of this, many of the trainings have a “train the trainer” model. This means that HAFA farmer trainings are just as much as a learning experience for the trainer as it is for the farmers.
We’ve had a lot of familiar faces show up to most all our trainings. The consistent attendance of over 12 farm families has been a source of inspiration to me. As a non-Hmong speaker, I have been fascinated by how well the trainings have been translated by Pakou, Janssen, and Yao. One trainer even made her power point presentation in Hmong.
The farmers have been very helpful teaching me basic Hmong words so I can attempt “Hmonglish”, which is always appreciated. Getting to know the farmers on a more personal level helps facilitate trust and better understanding between different cultures. Most of the farmers are actually tri-lingual. The most common languages HAFA farmers understand are Hmong, Thai, Lao, and English.
An exciting development that spurred from the trainings has been the cooperative purchasing efforts. For example, HAFA members have come together to amass an order of potato seed for 11,000 pounds for example. This type of purchasing power will enable HAFA growers further opportunities to get better price points for inputs such as seeds, mulch, compost, field totes, and supplies for market
I’m looking forward to finishing out the trainings for the year, from Understanding Cooperative Farming and Farmers Marketing Tactics and Banner Creation to Perennials for The HAFA Farm and Organic Farming Best Practices.