the bees knees

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKEEEEEEPING! this is all my association has been talking about for the last 6 months and they're ready to go! in the beginning of feb we had a general information session with another PCVs landlord who has been beekeeping for 20 years. He came in and explained a typical calendar year and the budget and how much work the association can expect to do. since then ive turned in my grant and we are starting training sessions with a bee techinican from Sefrou. Here is my little spiel about the project....

"Mghila is a small rural village located in the mountainous region of Northern Morocco known for olive oil production and subsistence farming. Olive oil production is the main source of employment and income during the winter months of olive season. However, during the remaining months of the year most people are without a job. Beekeeping has the potential to provide an alternative source of income during the spring and summer months that is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Local beekeeping would also make honey more accessable and improve the nutrition of families in Mghila. The community is contributing to this project through labor, training, transportation, and storage for the equipment. The interested community members would be assigned specific roles in the implementation of this project by logistically caring for the bees, as well as planning and organizing amongst themselves.  The timeline for this project began this February with a community meeting set up by the local association as a general information session. The community hopes to start the beekeeping project this spring by bringing in a local bee technican to do trainings on hive set up, maintance, harvest, and off season care. The members of the community interested in working with bees are committed to sharing resources and working as a team to put in the long hours for the ultimate rewards – community development and honey!"

There's a lot of potential here but I'm staying cautiously optimistic.  Just wanted to give a little update about what I've been up to!

christine, her landlord (Said), me and my association.