Overwintering Beekeeper
Employer: Boston Honey Company, Inc.
Location: Hortense, GA
Workers needed: 2
Pay: $16.95/hour
Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Jan 14, 2027
Experience: 3 months
Employer-provided housing; Transportation provided/reimbursed
The job
Crops/Commodities: Honey. The Overwintering Beekeeper performs manual and mechanical beekeeping work during the winter maintenance period, when colonies are held in Georgia yards between the end of honey production and the start of pollination contracts. This position does not include honey harvest or extraction, queen rearing, colony divides, or work in New York.
The worker inspects overwintering hives on a regular schedule, checks food stores, and feeds colonies with syrup, fondant, or pollen substitute as needed. The worker applies mite, disease, and pest treatments, monitors for small hive beetle, wax moth, and predation, and removes or combines weak or dead colonies. The worker keeps hives protected from cold and moisture by adjusting entrances, insulation, and ventilation and by repairing or reinforcing hive bodies, bottom boards, and covers.
The worker prepares hives and equipment in Georgia for shipment to almond pollination contracts, including grading colonies, strapping and netting hives, staging pallets, and loading and unloading with hand tools. The worker also builds, repairs, cleans, and paints hive boxes, frames, and pallets and helps with routine upkeep of the shop and yard sites.
Work is outdoors in all weather with prolonged standing, walking, bending, stooping, and repetitive motion. The worker must lift and carry up to 75 pounds, have no fear of bees and no allergy to bee stings or hive products, and wear employer provided protective equipment when required. Daily schedules may change with weather and colony condition. A five day trial period will evaluate proficiency in the essential duties.
Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)
Meals: Housing will be clean and meet the applicable Federal and State Housing Standards. Workers
will be responsible for maintaining housing in a neat, clean manner. Reasonable repair cost of
damage, other than that caused by normal wear and tear, may be subject to court action for
workers found to have been responsible for damage to housing or furnishing. Housing and
utilities are provided at no cost to workers who are unable to return to their place of residence
the same day. The employer will furnish free cooking facilities so workers may prepare their
own meals. Free transportation will be provided once a week to grocery store so workers can
purchase their groceries.
Transport: For workers who complete 50% of the work period, the company will reimburse the worker for costs incurred by the worker for
transportation and reasonable subsistence from the place from which the worker has come to work for the employer. Employees
transportation will be arranged to and from their country of origin by either plane, train, bus, taxi service or employer vehicle. The
company may elect, at the Company's sole discretion and/or if required by law.
Experience wanted: 3 months
Exposure to extreme temp, lifting 75 lbs, repetitive movements, extensive pushing and pulling,
extensive walking, frequent stooping.
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