Bee helpful with the Blue Orchard Bee Keeping Workshop

Learn about bees and take some home.

March 21, 2014; 9:01 AM • by Richard Hayes

Blue Bee Cider’s namesake, the blue orchard bee or osmia lignaria, is ready to emerge and begin pollinating throughout Virginia. In this workshop, you will learn more about these amazing creatures and how to begin keeping these bees to increase pollination in your garden or farm.

Blue orchard bees are docile (not aggressive like honey bees), non-stinging, solitary, highly productive, and will multiply their numbers by about six times in one generation/year. Each blue orchard bee does the work of SIX honey bees and will pollinate from March into early May, rain or shine.
Participants will receive enough blue orchard bees to pollinate a minimum of a half acre of fruit trees and other early blooming flowers, fruits and vegetables. Workshop fee includes a blue bee shelter, 10 blue bee cocoons, handouts, and key accessories to assist with blue bee keeping.

Mar. 30, 3-4 p.m. or Apr. 6, 1:30-2:30 p.m. $65/registration online. This is excellent value per acre compared with the price of honeybees – and no risk of being stung.

Learn more about bee pollination at the same site that I found the above images, Beekeeping 101.