How Do Bees Make Wax?

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

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

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

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

      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

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

  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

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...

The Hive Experience at Kew Gardens

The only difference between The Hive installation at Kew Royal Botanical Gardens and the real-life bee hive that inspires it, is that if the weather becomes inclement, the installation closes, while the real hive keeps on buzzing.          ...

Toronto Has Been Dubbed Canada’s First Bee City

Hey Hivers – It’s official. Toronto now has the enviable title of being the very first city in Canada to earn the title of ‘Bee City Canada’. The Bee City movement started in the US in 2012 when the town of Asheville, North Carolina, became the...