The Beekeeper's Guild

Danielle is an enthusiastic member of the Beekeepers Guild. She keeps several of her own hives and enjoys being a helping hand for other beekeepers. Beekeeping was first introduced to her by a relative on a trip to Italy in 1986. She instantly felt a connection with the honey bee. In 2018 she took her first steps towards beekeeping, taking a beginner beekeeping class and started caring for her own hive. To advance her knowledge of bee keeping she enrolled  in the UC Davis master beekeeping course where she completed the apprentice beekeeper level in fall 2021. After finishing her course she attended a bee convention where she acquainted herself with several members of the Beekeepers Guild. As a result she decided to become more active in the Guild and has formed invaluable relationships with fellow beekeepers. She is excited to be part of the Beekeepers Guild community and is delighted to have the opportunity to learn from and help fellow beekeepers. 

Vicky had absolutely no intention of becoming a beekeeper. Her husband on the other hand thought it would be a fun adventure. Several years ago, an unexpected swarm found its way to their backyard and started to settle in. Vicky’s husband, determined to adopt the swarm, immediately contacted Barbara at the Santa Barbara Beekeepers Guild for mentoring. He gave the swarm a home in their small urban backyard, Vicky observing from a distance.  

Over time, she started to join in, climbing into a bee suit and immersing herself into the beekeeping process. Today Vicky and her husband are a beekeeping duo and Vicky has fallen in love with these fascinating creatures.

Barbara began her love affair with bees in 2010 when she saw an advertisement for a beekeeping class offered by a local beekeeper and thought it sounded interesting. Little did she know how it would change her perceptions of the natural world. Now she gets to share that love with kids throughout Santa Barbara teaching them about the importance and magic of bees.

Tami was looking forward to beekeeping when she retired but Mother Nature had another plan! When a swarm arrived in her yard in 2010, she figured she better get busy and learn what it took to take care of them. A decade later she is stIll enjoying learning which has led her on the path to becoming one of California's Master Beekeepers. Tami serves as the President and the  Education Director on the Board of Directors for the Beekeeper's Guild of Santa Barbara and she looks forward to bringing a diverse group of speakers to share their varied knowledge and experience with our local "beeks."

Laurie was introduced to the magic of honey bees as a child while gazing through the glass walls of an observation hive and immediately knew she would one day keep bees. In 2016 she started with her first colony and now cares for numerous hives around Santa Barbara. A constant learner, she has been studying the Master Beekeeper Program, earning her Apprentice certificate through the University of California at Davis and her Journeyman certificate from the University of Montana. 

 Over the years, Dan Smith’s backyard garden has revealed to him the crucial role of all insects and pollinators as well as the plants and trees that sustain and nourish them.  When he was introduced to beekeeping through a community class about 12 years ago, he continued to learn from the bees and has never looked back. He strives to understand and respect bees in their natural environment. Hosting honey bees has opened up a new world for Dan, a window into the wider, natural universe that surrounds us all. 

Todd Squires is a professor at UCSB who got his first beehive right before COVID shut the world down.  Lectures in heat transfer now come with anecdotes about bees using evaporative cooling to both make honey and to cool the hive and keep the hive warm by balling up and working their wings.  Occasionally his kids join him in the fun.

Pam is an organic gardener who was introduced to beekeeping when her then-12-year-old son wanted a hive. After he went to college, a swarm took up residence in the old hives and bees have been in the yard ever since, bringing us joy and honey.