because we all want to do better

three people co-working in a room with comfortable furniture

Business Retreat for Beekeepers

The ultimate learning circle that kicks off with a weekend retreat in April, followed by monthly online support until November.

Partially funded by SARE.

A beekeeper showing two other beekeepers how to make wet grafts for queen rearing. They are wearing headlamps and using grafting tools, queen cup bars, and a deep frame of bee brood.

Learning Circles

My signature learning experiences – small group, hands-on, highly interactive.

2025 Learning Circles: business retreat, queen grafting, a cutout, and honey extraction (expected) in central Iowa.

A group of beekeepers from St. Catherine's Bee Farmers Association (Jamaica) gather around Julia McGuire, who is holding a frame of bees up for everyone to see during a group hive inspection.

Beekeeping Courses

Traditional In-Person and Virtual options for absolute beginners as well as seasoned bee keepers looking for a more formal setting with an established syllabus from the state apiarist and updated by Julia throughout the year.

Julia McGuire speaks to a group at Sprout Garden, located at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

Accountability Pods

A virtual call with a small group to check in throughout the season for different perspectives to your hive issues. This is a time for your questions in a close setting, where everyone’s experience matters.

Sign-ups open in April 2025 after the Retreat.

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  • I just wish that I had had this experience when I first started beekeeping and finding no support for assessing my hives. Beekeeping is one of those life-long learning experiences.

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    learning circle participant 2023
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  • I just wish that I had had this experience when I first started beekeeping and finding no support for assessing my hives. Beekeeping is one of those life-long learning experiences.

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    learning circle participant 2023
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  • I've met so many good people from the classes.

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    learning circle participant 2024
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  • Absolutely love this! I seriously learned a lot that will help me expand my operations and my profits in the end. I’ve learned way more with the Learning Circle than I have any other classes or seminars that I’ve attended.

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    learning circle participant 2024
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  • I appreciate the quality level of expertise available, friendly and inviting - not intimidating

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    learning circle participant 2024
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  • So grateful! Learned so much and excited for more like this!!!

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    learning circle participant 2024
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  • Thank you for doing learning circles! It's great to have relevant topics spread out through out the season. It really helps to keep me on my toes and motivated to be a better beekeeper.

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    learning circle participant 2024
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  • This was great and well worth the time and cost as a learning experience.

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    learning circle participant 2024
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