Register NOW for Mason Bee Cocoon Harvesting and Orcas Isle Cider Tasting

Mason Bee Cocoon Harvesting Hands-On Workshop

Saturday, October 18th, from 2:15 – 4:00 p.m.

Orcas Island Library Community Room

Give our native bees a helping hand this fall and learn how to provide these important pollinators with healthy habitats to forage and nest.

We’ll have on display several varieties of mason bee and leafcutter homes, nesting materials, and cocoon storage methods. The club will raffle off a mason bee home complete with empty reed nesting tubes, ready for next season. Participants will take apart this season’s nesting tubes, separate cocoons from mud plugs and parasites, and give mason bee cocoons a water bath to remove detritus. Any leaf cutter or alfalfa bee cocoons will be placed in a net bag.

Attendees who have their own nesting tubes are welcome to bring them to the workshop. Hand held magnifiers will be available to use.

Participants who are garden club members will receive a copy of the Wild Bee Guide from Crown Bees!

Orcas Isle Cider

Visit & Taste!

Thursday, October 23rd

4:00 p.m.

Orcas Isle Farm ~ 4727 Orcas Road, Eastsound

Lisa & Joe are offering the garden club a rare opportunity for an experience at their farm. Here’s what to expect!

Visit the ‘Beaver Den’ tasting room at the Orcas Isle Farm:

• Taste and enjoy a varieties of hard ciders. There will be a non alcoholic option as well.
• Take a private tour of the cider specific apple orchard including several heritage varieties that have stood on the island for over 100 years.
• Get a behind-the-scenes peek at the low-intervention cider operations process, equipment, and bottling.  

The cost of this experience is $20 per person. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Orcas Isle Farm to offset their costs of providing the event.