Last weekend I did a one day course on stingless bees (or native bees) with Tim Heard, through the wonderful Milkwood.
Tim Heard is an expert on all things native bees and along with his friend Tony Goodrich presented a course that I haven’t stopped talking about since.
Stingless Bees are amazingly wonderful and I am so looking forward to going further with this. My courtyard, local school, friends…yes, this is definitely going to happen.
Watch this space I reckon. Stingless bees, let’s do this.
**********
How about you? Are you doing any courses at the moment? Got any experience with bees, native or otherwise? Or would you also like to get a stingless bee hive?
Sugarbag.com for a cracking start to understanding what they are all about.
Jump across to Milkwood for more awesome courses to do.
cityhippyfarmgirl 
I think I’ve heard of these bees. Are they really small compared with other bees?
LikeLike
Much smaller, and black in colour.
LikeLike
Always leave some veg to go to seed in your garden. They love the flowers of bok choy etc and live with the other bees well. I love the little fellas.
LikeLike
If only I had more garden Marilyn!
Would you consider getting a hive?
LikeLike
Interesting. Tony is talking about building some sort of nest/attraction feature (?) for native bees.
LikeLike
Perhaps something like a ‘bee hotel’ Rose? These attract the solitary bees and give them a wonderful place to call home 🙂 Google images ‘bee hotel’…there are some amazing looking set ups people have done.
The boxed hives are for the social native bees that are suitable for a hive like the one above. Fascinating creatures 🙂
LikeLike
What a great sounding course, I’ve wanted to find out about keeping native bees for ages, and was only inspired further by recently seeing my parent’s garden swarming in them…
LikeLike
Do find out. See if you live in an area that is suitable for the hives. They are absolutely fascinating…and needed!
LikeLike
How interesting Brydie. Love your photo x
LikeLike
It’s an intricate hive isn’t it.
LikeLike
Love that shot of the bee hive! Fresh honey, why not?
LikeLike
Just a small amount 🙂
LikeLike
I did the same course in Newcastle and was similarly inspired! Very excited to notice them in the garden afterwards and can’t wait to expand the population 🙂 Your pictures look different to mine though – was it the Tetragonula hockingsi that you saw?
LikeLike
No not the hockingsi, the carbonaria 🙂
Isn’t it wonderful to come away from something so inspired. So, do you plan to get a hives/hives?
LikeLike
Absolutely! Have ordered one and expecting it in November, I can’t wait!
LikeLike
I think we might be too cold for them down this far but at least I can live vicariously through your exploration of the delightful little black buzzers 🙂
LikeLike
Too cold for you Ms Narf unfortunately. Would you ever consider a European honey bee hive in your wonderful garden?
LikeLike
I might get a beating as we have an apiarist at the back of our property and his bees can be found swanning about all over our garden at most times of the year. They are currently massing on my blueberry flowers, lucky me! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow I’ve never heard of stingless bees before so this is a real eye opener 🙂
LikeLike
I love this post about stingless bees. We have a 1/2 acre back yard, but we are only 2 miles from center city and have lots of neighbors. My husband was hesitant about keeping bees. I’m totally showing him this article 🙂 http://www.PeonyandPoppy.com ~Much Love~
LikeLike
Pingback: Top 13 Eco friendly Gift Ideas | cityhippyfarmgirl