Bee Mentorship

Consultations, Coaching, and Courses!

Welcome! Are you excited about beekeeping but not sure where to start? Are you a new-ish beekeeper who needs help, but are overwhelmed by the opinions online? You are not alone and I am here to help. As a Master Beekeeper I’ll help you gain the skills you need to care for your bees, from starting out to hive inspections to pest management.
For a limited time, you can receive free or inexpensive beekeeping advice! I want to iron out any wrinkles as I develop a bee mentoring service. So, like receiving free samples at the market, you are able to receive complimentary help in working your bees.

Services

Every colony is unique and may need individual attention. Sometimes a phone call and photos will suffice; other times it might be to review the hive together in person or via Zoom. If you live in or near the Twin Cities or in San Luis Obispo county, I may be able to visit and guide you one-on-one. If you live elsewhere, I am happy to chat on the phone, conduct a Zoom review, or communicate via email. Services include:

  • 🐝 Hands-On Hive Inspections (Near Twin Cities, MN) – Learn to safely open your hive, spot the queen, and understand brood patterns.
  • 🐝 Seasonal Guidance – What to do in spring, summer, fall, and winter. Please review the bi-monthly newsletter I wrote for the Central Coast Beekeeping Alliance.
  • 🐝 Pest & Disease Management – Learn how to monitor and manage Varroa mites and other threats.
  • 🐝 Honey Harvest Help – Guidance on when and how to extract honey.
  • 🐝 Ongoing Support – Ask questions anytime as you grow into a confident beekeeper.

Consultations

🌱 One-time Consultation–phone or Zoom ($25 Free!)

This is great option if you want a quick review of what to do or you want feedback on something you have seen in a hive.
+Initial email correspondence and one 15 minute phone or Zoom consultation

🌱Visit and review of your apiary ($50/hour + travel time)

+I will come and visit your apiary and inspect your hives with you. We will discuss hive strength, management, seasonal changes, and best practices.

Coaching

🌱 One-on-One Mentorship ($75/month $30 SALE)

This is great for those just getting started and want to stay up to date on what is happening in their hive and what they should be doing as a bee-keeper.
+One month email correspondence* and two 15 minute phone or Zoom consultations

🌱 One-on-One Mentorship-(Six Months $500/$250 SALE)

This option is especially great for the new or new-ish beekeeper! Hives are always changing and we need to be prepared to support them–this could be adding boxes during expansion, culling queen cells to avoid swarming, checking for mites, dealing with pests, and ensuring they have the right resources for overwintering.
+Six months of email correspondence* and twelve 15 minute (six 30 minute or some combination) phone or Zoom consultations. In Northern climates these consultations happen April-September.

🌱 Spring and fall check-ins ($75 per month)

Just need to check in after overwintering and preparing to overwinter? Let’s chat! This consultation also includes two handbooks with checklists describing spring and fall preparations.
*Spring and Fall Check-Ins ( two preparation handbooks and two 30 minute phone or Zoom consultations ($100 Please ask)

🌱Small group mentoring ($50/month $25 SALE)

Want to participate in a virtual beekeeping community? Wonderful! This is the group for you.
+We will have bi-monthly one-hour Zoom meetings to learn from one another and share best practices.

Courses

🌱Introduction to Beekeeping ($50, minimum 3 people, 1.5 hours in-person presentation)

Not sure how to start beekeeping? Want to take a look inside a hive to see if it might be for you? Please attend a 1.5 hour lecture and apiary visit in downtown Minneapolis. All equipment (veil, jacket, and gloves) will be provided as well as a how-to-get-started guide.

🌱 Parasites, Pathogens, Pollution, Oh my! ($35, minimum 3 people, 1 hour Zoom presentation/conversation)

With a 60% loss in the U.S. in 2024-25, bees are under significant threat. We will discuss what is happening and how can hobby beekeepers proactively support our colonies to prevent further loss.

*Email correspondence refers to up to three back and forth communications per month.

About Me

My name is Dr. Ryan Alaniz and I’ve been keeping bees for nine years. What began as a hobby quickly became a passion for learning about honeybees and sharing the joy of beekeeping.

I am a teacher by training (university profess0r), a Master Beekeeper, a board member of the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association, and a Master Gardener. I have twenty-four hives in California and two hives at Urban Ventures Farm in South Minneapolis.

Fun fact: I started with two hives. However, because you should not disturb a colony more than once a week, I soon picked up five more so I could check on the bees everyday. My passion continues to grow and I am excited about sharing my expertise with you.

🌱 My Values

  • 🌎 Science-based mentorship – Advice is based on academic research.
  • 👩‍🌾 Education – Every beekeeper deserves clear, practical, and affordable guidance.
  • 💛 Community – Beekeeping is more effective and fun when we learn, share, and support one another.
  • 🐝 Respect for the Bees – Mentoring is always rooted in the well-being of the colony.

📬 Contact

If you’d like to learn more or schedule a mentoring call, please reach out:

EmailPhoneWebsiteSign up for a consultationLocation
dr.ryan.alaniz (at) gmail.com612.868.2896https://ryanalaniz.comClick here for a phone or Zoom callSan Luis Obispo County, CA
Minneapolis, MN