Bees

After the garden and the chickens were established, the next logical addition to the farmSTED was a beehive. Through generous support from the Veale Foundation and private donors, we began a partnership with Youth BeeWorks to make beekeeping on campus a reality.

The first big question we had to solve was where to put 50, 000 stinging insects to keep them - and our students and staff- safe. We decided on the roof of the building and it has worked out great. About once a month, our partner from Youth BeeWorks comes out to lead the beekeepers through a hive inspection, and along the way teaches them about hive maintenance and health, the bee life cycle and how they communicate and organize themselves. 

Twice a year we harvest honey from the hives and sell it at our farm stand. It goes fast, so if you want some, follow us on Instagram and keep your eyes open for the next sale!

Pollinator Resources

OSU Bee Lab Located in Wooster, Ohio, this research facility is doing ground breaking research on honeybees and looking for solutions to the many threats they face. Their website also has links to workshops, classes and articles.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Their website is the starting point to learn about all kinds of pollinators that are so critical to the ecosystem, and to learn what is being done (and how you can help!) to save them.