Beekeeper
Employer
6067 George Road
Punta Gorda, FL 33982
United States
Job description
Worker will be required to perform a variety of duties related to the production of honey bees. The majority of the work activities during the overall contract period, however, will be related to the production of honey bees.
Duties related to the production of honey bees will include the following: check physical characteristics, observe general condition of bees/hives and apply the appropriate care; remove supers (bee boxes) from storage and load onto flatbed trucks; add and remove supers from the hive as needed; place empty supers in storage; prepare bee colonies for winter; gather supers and strap onto trucks for transport; inspect maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yard, and fences; blow smoke into hives to quiet bees using smoke producing device; assemble beehives using hand tools; open hive and pour sugar on tops of frames to feed bees; mix and knead specified types and quantities of ingredients to make bee candy; places screen plug in hive entrance to confine bees and set hive in orchard, clover field, or near other source of nectar and pollen; scrape out parasites such as wax moth larva and remove vermin such as birds and mice; destroy superfluous queen bee cells to prevent division of colony by swarming; burn hives of diseased bee colony or sterilize hive using caustic soda solution; mow weeds and grass in apiaries and around worksites; weed eat to clean entrance of grass and shrubs from entrance of active hives; roll straps from hive pallets for summer storage; remove straps for placement back on hive pallets in fall; place pollen patties on colonies; inspect and install/remove entrance cleats; transfer damaged hive equipment and replace/repair equipment; maintain, drive, attach, and operate farm implements/tractors/equipment; make minor mechanical adjustments and repairs on farm machinery; may mix and/or spray chemicals (according to appropriate restrictive use laws, when/if applicable); remove undesirable and excess growth from farm grounds or bee yards; paint/repair/maintain farm structures; perform general cleanup of farm areas; drive, load/unload trucks; operate vehicle, motor bike, or all-terrain vehicle in the course of performing duties; all other duties necessary for the production and care of honey bees.
Special Requirements
Applicants must have 3 months of experience with beekeeping. Applicants hired must be able to obtain a valid drivers license as driving on public roads may be required. Employer requires a drug/alcohol/tobacco free work place.