The gift of experience may be the best one of all this holiday season and The Toronto Beekeepers Co-op (TBC) has a unique gift idea that aims to satisfy the bee curious. The TBC will conduct an educational day of urban beekeeping for beginners on February 2, 2013 and it is available now for purchase and giving at intro@torontobees.ca

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Learn to actively manage an urban apiary on February 2, 2013

The Beekeeping 101 class includes lunch and will explore a wide range of apiary basics, including: bee friendly gardens; interactive hive and equipment demonstrations; bee biology and lifecycles; hive management and apitherapy. Funds raised by the $45.00 admission fee will go to further the educational work of the Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative.  The day of learning to beekeep will be held at FoodShare, 90 Croatia St., Toronto (Bloor & Dufferin area) on Saturday, February 2, 2013. www.foodshare.net  Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and is followed by class at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

According to the TBC’s C0-chair, Nicki Weiss, “The main goal of the TBC is to actively manage the beehives under our stewardship, to educate members about bee husbandry and management, and to educate the public about the value of bees to our City’s urban landscape and ecosystem. A great bonus is contributing to the biodiversity and “greening of Toronto,” already one of the world’s greenest cities.”

Beekeeping 101 is a ticketed public event and available on a first come, first registered service at $45.00 per person. Attendance may be secured by email at intro@torontobees.ca

To give the gift of beekeeping,  as a last minute gift idea, further information may be obtained by visiting  www.torontobees.ca

About the Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative:

Established in 2002, the TBC is a 40 member volunteer organization operating in partnership with FoodShare.  They are a dynamic force in Toronto’s urban agriculture scene. As beekeepers and as educators they are dedicated to educating the public about the value of bees and their relation to Toronto’s urban landscape and ecosystem.  In 2011 the TBC was awarded a “Green Toronto Award” for its stewardship and educational efforts.