Save the Bees! Native bee basics for every garden.

27625 228th Avenue Southeast,Maple Valley WA 98038

12 March, 2022

Description

In this class, you’ll learn about the life cycle of mason bees, one of the easiest and most rewarding of our local native bees to care for. Do you want to do your part to help “save the bees”? Did you know there are over 4,000 species of native bees in North America alone, and the honey bee is not one of them? Caring for native bees is simple, inexpensive, and far more beneficial to the environment than honey beekeeping. Plus, no stings! Native bees are incredible pollinators, beautiful, industrious, and entertaining. They pose no threat to humans or pets, so they can be safely observed as they work. Come learn all the basics of native bee husbandry: how they live, what they do, and what you can do to help them survive and thrive. Supporting local native bee populations is vital for our ecosystem, and even small changes in your garden can make a big difference. In this class, you’ll learn about the life cycle of mason bees, one of the easiest and most rewarding of our local native bees to care for. We’ll discuss the range of steps you can take to protect their habitat, responsible bee hotels, and hands-on bee management for the dedicated apiphile (bee lover)! In the last third of the class, we will take a tour of the farm’s various bee houses and pollinator plantings as well as go over setting up the beginner’s kit that you’ll take home with you, perfect for populating with busy, gentle mason bees. We will also discuss options for other housing types, both DIY and commercially produced, and mason bee cocoons (live bees!) will be available for purchase as supplies last. If you would like to pick up a starter kit and/or mason bee cocoons at the class, be sure to add on the additional "FREE" ticket options at checkout. The starter kit is $10 and the mason bee cocoons are $5, cash only!