Joy of beekeeping

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

A passion for beekeeping runs deep in Janelle Dunn's family.

Her father has been a beekeeper for years and she is carrying on the tradition, here in Penticton.

"You're always learning and there are so many important things to discover about the bees and the natural landscape, " said Dunn.

Her father Bill Parchomchuk started beekeeping whe he was 14 at the Vernon 4-H club and has been a beekeeper on and off his whole life.

Dunn realized it was what she wanted to do when she came back to the Okanagan, after attending university in Victoria. 

"I realized I had an opportunity to take part in agriculture in a way that develops a relationship with the land and the people," she said. "So I followed my dad into it."

These days she and her husband Kevin Dunn operate Okanagan Wildbrush Honey.

They bring honey bees into orchards and sell honey and other beehive products like pollen, beeswax and propolis.  

Beekeeping is especially important in this day and age with one/third of the food people eat relying directly on insect pollination.

"Our cherry and apple industry in the Okanagan is completely reliant on honey bee pollination," said Dunn. "And I believe it is important to build a sustainable food economy here."

Dunn can be found at the Community Market in Penticton every Saturday.

In February she will teach a course on beekeeping at Okanagan College in Penticton.