Paul Sheppard

1984-2004 Trinidad and Tobago

In 1984 I trained in Trinidad at the Ministry Of Agriculture under The Director of Apicultural services, Mohammed Hallim. Between 1984 and 2002 I kept bees in many parts of the island and introduced beekeeping to the Golf Course on which I was employed, The St.Andrew’s Golf Club.

In 1987 my hives became very aggressive as the Africanized Honey Bee invasion from Venezuela began to take over the country. By the time I left Trinidad in 2004 I was working with around 50 Hives in three Apiaries.

2004 to 2006

California , USA

Moved to the United States and started beekeeping in California. Worked with my mentor J.R. Gittins and also assisted him with his hives

2006 to 2015

Asheville, North Carolina, USA

In North Carolina I had the great opportunity of working with the Center for Honey Bee Research in Asheville lead by Carl Chesick. The center collected data from 10 treatment free and 10 chemically treated hives to compare honey bee health.

2009- 2015 St.Lucia

The St.Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF)

February to June 2013

I had the wonderful opportunity to work both in the Caribbean and in the US during these years

I was asked by the SSDF in St.Lucia to teach 12 to 17 Farmers from the Belmont Beekeeping group. At an introductory talk in the village community center the Group grew to 40 people willing to learn beekeeping.

I organized local beekeepers and craftsmen to start new businesses creating a breeder and a hive builder to supply the 40 Beekeepers with two complete hives each. (Brood box/ super/ Excluder/ 5-frame nucs), and a local seamstress sewed all the suits.

GEF (the Global Environment Fund Small Grants Program)

Group: Farmers with Disabilities Beekeeping Association

March 2014 to June 2015

Purpose: The Development of Natural Apiculture as the basis for Sustainable livelihoods for Farmers with Disabilities in Saint Lucia

In Addition: A Research project to compare the effects of Natural vs. Commercial

(Chemical treatment) Hive Management systems

After discussions with Giles Romulus of GEF, and Mark Remmy of the FDBA it was decided to structure a project that would include both training and research into the sustainable methods of beekeeping. 20 Hives were purchased from a local breeder and they were separated into 10 Commercial and 10 Natural Managed colonies.

Personal Apiary , Cap Estate ( 2009 to 2015)

Managed an Apiary of 30 Hives

Presentations

Since 2014 I have been a presenter and speaker on Natural Beekeeping at several Caribbean meetings and Conferences, in the United States and more recently in Portugal.

St.Lucia 2014

Talk on Natural Beekeeping St.Lucia Golf Club 2014

St.Croix

2014

Caribbean Bee College and Congress

Presentation: St.Lucia Honey Industry Report

Grenada

May 2015

One of the keynote speakers in Caribbean Bee College (University of Florida with University of Grenada)

Presentations:

Managing a Research and Training Program in St.Lucia

Sustainable Beekeeping using the Natural method

USA

2016

University of Florida, Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory

Presentation:

Caribbean Honey Industry Report for St. Lucía, St. Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago

Managing a Honeybee Research and Training Program in St. Lucia

Portugal

November 2017

Paul de Tornada, Caldas da Rainha

Presentation:

The Effects of Agrochemicals on Honey Bee Health

2017 to Present

France

Established a Natural Beekeeping Apiary in Central France where I now live.

Owner The Honey Bee Steward

Online training business

Private mentoring

Apiary establishment