Explore the basics of beekeeping at home. Learn the tools, equipment, and techniques needed to start and manage your own hive!

Bees are critical to the health of our ecosystems and the sustainability of our food supply. 90% of wild plants and 35% of food crops grown by humans depend on insect pollination. Almost 80% of all pollination is performed by honey bees — nature’s hardest workers.

Despite their importance to global and local ecosystems, honey bee populations are declining rapidly. Beekeeping at home helps support your local population while making your gardens thrive and providing raw, organic honey. 

Join us in The Ecology Center garden and around our beehive for a hands-on workshop that will equip you with the knowledge you need to start and maintain your own beehive at home.

In this workshop you will learn:

• About the life cycle, characteristics, and many benefits of the honey bee
• Causes of honey bee decline and practical solutions we can implement to support their populations
• How to start and maintain your own beehive
• Different types of hives and how to select one for your garden
• Where to place your hive
• How to select plants to support honey bee pollination and health

All attendees will receive an informational hand-out to complement the subjects covered in the workshop. We will also have a few samples of honey to taste from The Ecology Center’s network of all-natural beekeepers.

Instructor: Anna Maria Desipiris

Instructor Bio: Anna Maria is an experienced organic farmer with an extensive expertise in natural beekeeping. In 2015 she managed a program that rescued and relocated over 100 hives in Orange County. Currently she helps manage 2 local urban farms and leads all celebratory events at The Ecology Center.