To be a QUEEN or not to BEE

Sep 27, 2024 | Blog

Most bees are solitary, but honeybees are very social and live within a hive as a colony as a family with a very strong hierarchy. Three castes make up a hive: Queen, Worker, and Drone. The Queen bee is the heart and soul of the hive. She is the largest bee in the...

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

Sep 1, 2024 | Uncategorized

We have mixed feelings about bees. We fear them, we avoid them, and we swat them. But do we really understand how important they are to our ecosystem? Honeybees are responsible for the pollination of over 90 fruit and vegetable crops worldwide. If bees stopped...

How Do Bees Make Wax?

Aug 5, 2024 | Uncategorized

Only female bees make wax. A worker bee has distinct glands located on her underbelly which secrete wax. It is estimated that five pounds of honey will be ingested by the bees in order to produce one pound of wax. In order to convert the honey to wax the workers must...

How to Make An Urban Bee Hive

May 7, 2024 | Blog

Assemble and Take Home an Urban Bee Hive    Sun Apr 13, 2014, Toronto, ON 10 AM-1 PM at Bento Miso Collaborative Workspace, 862 Richmond St. W. Toronto (almost due south of the Trinity-Bellwoods Park gates)   Fran Freeman, a fellow urban beekeeper has been...

How to Keep A Winter Bee Cozy

Jan 12, 2024 | Blog

A great deal of sense goes into the common phrase “snug as a bug in a rug.”  My Mom used to say this as she tucked me into bed as a child.  Her words were soothing and made me feel secure as I fell off into slumber for the night.  Last November, in my role...

Urban Beekeeping 101

Jan 12, 2023 | Uncategorized

Are You Bee – Curious? May-bee you’re looking for that perfect Valentines Gift? How about some honey for your Honey? Look no further. BEEGrrl is happy to announce an Urban Beekeeping 101 full day course. It will take place on February 11th at Christ Church Deer Park,...

Celebs Whispering to the Bees

May 13, 2022 | Blog

      The old adage that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar may even apply to fleas. ‘Flea’ from Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP), that is. Late last year the very forward-thinking bassist became the proud keeper of three back yard hives,...

Seven Bee Species Added to Endangered Species List

Oct 26, 2016 | Blog

For the first time ever, bees have been added to the Endangered Species List. Not all bees – just 7 species – but it is a big wake up call. Interestingly enough – all 7 species can only be found on the Hawaiian Islands. This listing was made following recommendations...

Financial Post story about Fairmont Royal York Rooftop Bees

Oct 13, 2016 | Blog

  BeeGrrl has been a-buzzing about the well-being of the apiary she maintains on the roof of Toronto’s Royal York, even in the midst of a lot of hot, dry weather this year. Journalist Andy Holloway interviewed BeeGrrl and recounts how this roof top...

Healing with Honey Workshop

Oct 12, 2016 | Blog, Uncategorized

Soap Making Workshop   Presented by the Toronto Beekeepers Collective with Karen McKenna Learn how to make your own natural soap! At this hands on work shop, local beekeeper Karen McKenna (“Hi Honey” on Facebook) will instruct participants on how to make soap...