From sweet honey to fragrant beeswax candles, most of us have used a bee product at some point in our lives, but did you know that bees and other pollinators are vital to the human food supply chain?
These tiny creatures travel from plant-to-plant carrying pollen on their bodies that allows the transfer of genetic material necessary for flowering plants to reproduce and set fruit. In fact, bees alone are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat!
This fall, Earthwise Society is teaming up with Tsawwassen Mills to celebrate honeybees and the critical services they provide by offering a series of engaging workshops, and the opportunity to purchase a variety of unique bee products from Alveole: The Urban Beekeeping Company.
Tsawwassen Mills has been collaborating with Alveole, a professional organization that installs and cares for beehives at businesses and schools, as well as educating the public about the importance of bees, all while producing delicious honey.
This year, Tsawwassen Mills has generously donated all the Alveole products, including two workshops, to Earthwise Society in recognition of the Earthwise Feed the Bees program. The products will be sold online as a fundraiser to support new pollinator plantings at the Earthwise Garden.
Choose from local honey, beeswax candles, lip balm and more. The workshops will be delivered by knowledgeable Alveole staff and will include one virtual and one in-person session.
The in-person workshop, “The Wonders of Beeswax” will be an hour-long, hands-on
artisanal workshop exploring the wonders of beeswax, on Friday, Oct. 23 from noon to 1 p.m.
Guided by a beekeeper, attendees will participate in the centuries-old process of creating hand-crafted beeswax candles and learn the rich history of beeswax.
Spaces will be limited and physical distancing protocols will be followed. The cost of the workshop is $20 and Earthwise volunteers may attend for free. If you have never volunteered at Earthwise before, it’s not too late - fall is a busy season in the garden and more helping hands are always welcomed.
The second workshop, on Nov. 26, is entitled “From Hive to Honey Jar” will be offered virtually to anyone who purchases a bee product through the fundraiser, and will give a behind-the-scenes look at the process of artisanal honey extraction and the inside scoop on the unique qualities of urban honey.
For more information, please email info@earthwisesociety.bc.ca and keep an eye on
Earthwise Society’s website at www.earthwisesociety.bc.ca.
