This week the Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association, along with ATTTA, hosted an afternoon beekeeping event in Parrsboro. Fourteen attendees joined the session, creating an engaged group with lots of discussion and questions! Events like these are so important, helping beekeepers learn from one another and connecting with people in similar areas. Field events give everyone a chance to ask questions, share experiences and see how others manage their own operations.

Review of the NSBA Technical Session in Parrsboro

This event started with introductions by Dr. Andrew Byers apart of the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture, followed by Zoshia Fraser, who represented the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. Jennifer and David Harrison then welcomed everyone and introduced themselves, sharing the history of their beekeeping operation, how they got started and the work they do today. We were grateful for them opening their operation and welcoming beekeepers into their apiary for the afternoon.

Figure 1: Attendees in Jennifer Harrison’s Apiary (ATTTA ©, 2026)

After introductions, everyone suited up and headed into the hives. Jennifer began by showing the tools and equipment she likes to keep on hand in her operation. She explained her record keeping system, based on the year colour of the queens, to mark her hives and label tasks that need to be done.  This highlighted the importance of implementing an efficient way to keep track of the hives in her apiary. She also demonstrated her queen marking tools, her Cloake board setup, and her grafting frames. One highlight was her mating nucs, which were a standard deep box divided into three sections, each with its own entrance. 

Figure 2: Jennifer Harrison showing equipment she uses in her operation (ATTTA ©, 2026)

The group then split into two, one group with Jennifer, where she walked through assessing hive strength. Students learned when to split based on resources in the hive and the strength of the colony. She shared examples from her own operation, giving attendees knowledge on how she manages colony growth. The second group joined Andrew, who demonstrated how to inspect a captured swarm. He explained what to look for, how to monitor for varroa, and how to test mite levels using both an alcohol wash and an ether roll. He also discussed what steps to take after catching a swarm to ensure the colony is healthy. 

Figure 3: Jennifer Harrison performing an alcohol wash (Left) and Dr. Andrew Byers conducting an ether roll (Right) (ATTTA ©, 2026)

The afternoon was filled with enthusiasm, questions and great conversation. With 14 participants, the event offered hands-on learning and important discussions. Thank you so much to the Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association for supporting such a valuable session. A special thank you as well to Jennifer and David Harrison for being such welcoming and generous hosts. Their willingness to share their operation made this event a success and highlighted the value of learning from others! 

 Written by Kaitlyn Newton, ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturist

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca