2026 BEEKEEPING MENTORSHIP

Be part of a supportive community of bee-lovers in Onyx’s 2026 Regenerative Beekeeping Cohort! From January through October, we’ll journey through the full beekeeping season together — cultivating practical skills, confidence, and a deeper connection with the bees and the land.

WHAT WE’LL EXPLORE

  • Foundations of Regenerative Beekeeping

    • What regenerative beekeeping is and how it differs from conventional approaches

    • Honeybee biology and behavior

    • How bees thrive in the wild + what makes a healthy habitat

    Hive Stewardship

    • Choosing the hive style that fits your values and landscape

    • Modifying conventional hives to be more bee-centric

    • Preparing for bees + sourcing your bees ethically (including swarm catching)

    • Feeding bees: when, how, and if it’s appropriate

    Seasonal Practices

    • Bee-centric management through the full cycle of the year (winter → spring → summer → fall)

    Bee Medicines + Human Connection

    • Deep dive into the hive’s medicines: propolis, pollen, honey, royal jelly, venom, wax

    • Their roles in the hive, their history of human use, and how to harvest them with reverence

    Sacred + Intuitive Beekeeping

    • Practices to cultivate intuitive communication with your bees

    • Bees in mythology across cultures

    • Shamanic and ceremonial approaches to commune with the spirit of the bees

Personal Mentorship

  • 2 private one-on-one visits with Onyx (scheduled individually)

  • Monthly personal check-ins via voice notes/text for consistent, tailored support

  • Option to add additional visits at a 25% discount

Community Connection

  • Intimate cohort of 12 students (open to all genders)

  • Private Telegram group for questions, updates, and connection between immersions

  • Opportunities for supplemental bee adventures — swarm calls, seasonal hive work, and other unique experiences with Onyx’s inner circle

  • Priority access to swarms (Onyx’s preferred way of sourcing bees)

A Balance of Community + Personalized Guidance

This mentorship weaves together group learning, one-on-one support, and hands-on experience with the bees — while welcoming you into Onyx’s inner circle of bee tenders.

Program Flow

  • Virtual Orientation — January 17, 12PM-2PM PT (Zoom)
    Preparing for bees and setting intentions for the season ahead.

  • In-Person Immersions — Held at Onyx’s SE Portland apiary,

    10 AM–2 PM

    • March 21 (Swarm season)

    • May 30 (honey season)

    • July 18 (Boundary season)

    • September 12 (putting the bees to bed)

Apply Here

  • SWARM SEASON (March)

    We’ll be going over preparing for bees, including cleaning out old equipment and preparing welcoming hives for swarm season. We’ll also cover how to work with swarms in anticipation of their arrival in April!

  • HONEY SEASON (May)

    Swarming will have mostly died down by end of May and the bees will be shifting their energy to gathering nectar/making honey. This will also be the time that we harvest from the hives on the land to help them recycle old brood comb.

  • BOUNDARY SEASON (July)

    Late summer is the season of propolis and venom, the hive’s boundary medicines. we’ll explore both of these substances in depth during this immersion.

  • PUTTING THE BEES TO BED (Sept)

    Mid Sept is the time to begin thinking about preparing the bees for winter. We’ll be ensuring the hives have enough honey stores for the cold season ahead, as well as adding winter insulation.

  • By the time I met Onyx, I'd dreamed of tending bees for nearly a decade. I had taken various classes and workshops, but always left them feeling overwhelmed and like something was missing. It wasn't until I met Onyx and joined her mentorship that everything clicked... I learned of a better way to be with the bees, one that felt in greater alignment with myself, the earth, and most importantly, the bees themselves. Being in community with Onyx and the other women in my cohort made space for more than just bees, it created space for friendship, joy, heartbreak, wonder, grief, and especially hope. Hope for a better world for us and them. Onyx guides with a steadiness that is honest, bold, tender, and funny. She'll make you feel welcomed, supported, and like you're doing exactly enough. I'm eternally grateful to have found a friend and mentor in Onyx and am honored to finally tend bees alongside her.

    Angela Grey (2025 Cohort alumni)

  • Being part of Onyx's bee mentorship was a truly wonderful and transformative experience. I came in curious to learn, and left feeling truly connected to the bees in a way I didn't know was possible. Onyx holds so much deep knowledge and wisdom, and the way she weaves the spiritual, the ecological, and the practical together is really special. We had a really lovely group and I loved gathering in person, tasting sweet honey, meditating with hives, meeting queens, and learning about propolis, wax, and all the medicines and magic of the hive. I welcomed a swarm into my very first hive, learned what to plant in my garden to support them, and how to create a safe, loving, environment where the bees (native bes too!) can thrive. I'm deeply grateful for this experience, and it has changed the way I move through my garden, my days, and my relationship with the natural world. I wholeheartedly recommend this mentorship to anyone who feels even a spark of curiosity about bees, connection, or becoming friends with these wild and wonderful beings.

    Elana Gabrielle (2025 Cohort alumni)

  • "I can't speak highly enough about the support Onyx provides to early bee conservationists. I had a heartbreaking start with a few lost hives, but Onyx was consistently available, grounded, and thoughtful throughout. She offered clear direction and a much-needed sense of trust and calm. What stands out most is how truly bee-centric her approach is- she is always considering the bees in the wider ecological context, from native pollinators to the surrounding plants and habitat they rely on. Despite her deep expertise, she approaches every hive and every question with curiosity, as though she's learning right alongside you. Being a part of a cohort of new beekeepers created a powerful sense of connection - both with each other and the bees. Sitting at the hive just to listen has become an essential practice, and Onyx makes it easy to slow down in a world that resists slowing. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your skills, this program is truly excpetional. I'm grateful to continue growing on a path tended by so many wise women before me."

    Sarah Jo Ward (2025 Cohort alumni)

  • "Onyx was my first inspiration and teacher in bee keeping. I took her online class and participated in a one-on-one mentorship by phone with her, as I don't live in Oregon. I knew I wanted to learn from someone heart centered who brought that perspective to bee keeping and I am thankful to have learned so much from her. She helped me feel confident with bee keeping and coached me through my first year with the bees. I can only imagine how even more wonderful, rich and practical it would be to work with her in person, alongside a small group of like-minded people. She cares deeply about the bees and finding how to be in a symbiotic relationship with them. She has a wealth of resources and is happy to share with those who want to learn"

    Sarah Martins (2024, virtual mentorship)

  • "In 2021 my husband signed up for a beekeeping mentorship with Onyx. I never planned to be a part of it but from our first meeting I was hooked. I absolutely love Onyx's approach to beekeeping - a wholesome sustainable approach to caring for living beings that just happen to be small. Through her mentorship we learned practical things like the best kind of hives to use, how to care for the bees through the winter months, how and when to harvest honey in a sustainable way, where to position our hives on our property, and how to capture and home a swarm. We also learned about the properties of wax, honey, and propolis, and how to communicate with our bees. Our education is ongoing and Onyx has been the best teacher. I cannot recommend a better person to teach you the ways of sustainable beekeeping."

    Briana Morrison (2023 one-on-one mentorship)

FAQs

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes! We now have Klarna enabled as a payment option on our website! If choosing a payment plan, the tuition raises to $3200 (the $200 just covers additional fees) - you can select Klarna upon checkout and choose whatever payment plan best fits your needs!

(See the products + classes tab on our website to select this option. Contact Onyx to pay $3000 in full)

Where will the immersions be held?

All of the group immersions will be held at my home apiary in SE Portland. This will give you the opportunity to see a variety of different hive styles and hive personalities over an entire bee season! These will also be important experiences for the cohort to bond as a group.

What if I don’t live locally?

If you are able to travel to PDX and attend at least 2/4 of the in person group immersions, we can do 4 one-on-one mentorship calls (done virtually). The more group immersions you can attend, the better!

Who is this program for?

This mentorship program is for anyone that wishes to approach the bees from a bee-centric lens. All genders and experience levels are welcome!

What if I already have bees?

No problem! Onyx can support you with an already established hive that you’re wishing to approach from a more regenerative space, or can help you get started from the ground up. Wherever you are at in your bee journey is absolutely perfect!