About the Journey

Next Generation Beekeeping began with a simple yet impactful invitation. George Davidson was asked by a high school youth program to give a presentation on honeybees, sparking an unexpected journey. The curiosity and eagerness of the students led George to mentor a few who showed interest in learning more.

Inspired by this experience, George approached the Diamond Bar City Council to explore the possibility of creating a community apiary. Council member Dr. Chia Teng connected him with Little Parrot Farm, an organization already managing a few hives but in need of guidance in their upkeep. This partnership blossomed into an educational initiative, and George soon brought on Raquel to help grow the program, as their missions were equally aligned.

The team grew once again when Jess crossed paths with the two at a Long Beach Beekeepers meeting. Having expressed the same enthusiasm about the project, George and Raquel welcomed her aboard, further expanding the experience, reach and impact of Next Generation Beekeeping. 

Today, we’re more than a team of beekeepers—we’re educators, advocates, and passionate stewards of our local bee populations. Our mission is to share this love for bees with the community and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Meet the Team

  • George Davidson

    FOUNDER & LEAD EDUCATOR

    Fifteen years ago, George found himself face-to-face with a honeybee swarm that had settled in a trashcan by his back door. Armed with a punch bowl atop his head and draped in towels, he dragged the can away—amazed that the bees didn’t attack him. That moment piqued his curiosity about honeybees and eight years later, when the chance came to purchase two hives for $100, he eagerly jumped into the world of beekeeping.

    George has a tireless thirst for knowledge about honeybees and native bees, with a focus on varroa and tropilaelapse mites. He has presented on these topics at various Southern California bee clubs and currently serves as the education chair for the Beekeepers Association of Southern California, where he highlights a native pollinator each month. He also previously served as Vice President of BASC and has completed the Honey Bee Ambassador level of the California Master Beekeeper Program at UC Davis, a journey he will continue alongside Raquel.

    Understanding that the median age of beekeepers is around 55 years old, George is passionate about engaging younger generations in beekeeping.

    George manages 5 colonies at his home, as well as two for a private property. When he is not wrangling bees, he can be found enjoying a cold Leinenkugel Summer Shandy while hanging out with his pet squirrel, Rascal.

  • Jessica Webb

    APICULTURE EXTENSION SCIENTIST & EDUCATOR

    Jessica is a PhD candidate at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where she was awarded a Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship. She is studying antifungal metabolites to develop a novel medication for managed honey bee colonies to treat the gut microsporidian, Nosema ceranae. This type of research has led her to collaborative research efforts with local hobbyist and industry beekeepers. This involvement sparked her interest in bridging the gap between researchers and beekeepers, and educating youth and underserved communities about science through bees.

  • Raquel Ramirez

    CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR & YOUTH EDUCATOR

    An advocate of studying honeybees through science based curricula, Raquel was deep in the books and attending classes 3 years prior to getting her first hive as a Christmas present in 2022.

    She is passionate about protecting our native pollinators and adding native plants back into our landscapes, with emphases on both Monarch migration and the often overlooked importance of the mighty oak tree, the other thing besides honeybees she can talk obsessively about.

    Raquel is currently enrolled in the California Master Beekeeping Program through UC Davis, Honey Bee Ambassador Level.

    A serial entrepreneur and creative at heart, Raquel strives to take George's ideas and help bring them to life, making everything look sharp and somewhat organized.

    Besides managing the 5 hives on her property, she also raises quail, chickens, ducks and a goose; wrangles a couple of mischievous kittens, and can often be seen with her ride-or-die, canine-bestie, Howard.