Lab News
Five students from the UC Berkeley Bee Lab went on a field trip on Saturday April 2, 2022 to visit the Frog Hollow farm, where they had the opportunity to chat informally for 2 hours with the owner/manager, Farmer Al. Farmer Al generously told us the history of the farm and how it has grown over the years from 23 acres to 280 acres today. He commented on how the CSA program is now up to ~ 1500 members, and how he and his staff manage to keep up with the boxes of fresh fruit that are sent out each week to subscribers. We also learned about the major compost project and how he is enriching his soils with all the organisms that are part of the compost ecosystem. Finally, we learned about the incredible pastries that his wife Becky continues to produce.
- The Urban Bee Lab's avocado pollinator research was featured in a recent blog post by the University of California Cooperative Extension.
- The Urban Bee Lab will be teaching a native bee workshop "California’s Native Bees: Biology, Ecology, and Identification" through the Jepson Herbarium Workshop Series at the Hastings Natural History Reserve in the Carmel Valley. Click here for more information about workshop registration. - Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this workshop due to COVID-19. We hope to offer it in 2021.
- The Urban Bee Lab and Jaime Pawelek were recently featured in an article in Martha Stewart Living, with some helpful information about how to help bees in the winter and spring!
- Jaime Pawelek, our lab's taxonomist, is interviewed by Greg Peterson about native bees and pollinator-friendly habitats in the Urban Farm Podcast.
- Our taxonomist, Jaime Pawelek, was featured in a video about bees and extinction on the website for the Berkeleyside magazine.
Upcoming Talks and Events
Interested in a presentation from the Urban Bee Lab? Fill out a request form here.
Wed. April 5, 2023 7PM: Sarah Caso will be presenting for the SF Beekeeper's Association on native bee ecology in California. Gordon Frankie will answer questions following the presentation. The meeting is open to non-members of the SFBA. Visit their website at https://www.sfbee.org/ for more information on the event.
Tues. March 30, 2022 8-10AM: Gordon Frankie will be speaking via Zoom at the "Avocado Cafe", sharing the lab's research about how pollinator gardens attract diverse native pollinators to visit Avocado flowers in Greater Ventura. Register for this virtual meeting by emailing cafeavos@gmail.com.
Fri., May 29- Sun., May 31, 2020: The Urban Bee Lab will be teaching a workshop: "California’s Native Bees: Biology, Ecology, and Identification" through the Jepson Herbarium Workshop Series at Hastings Natural History Reserve. Click here for more information about workshop registration. (There is a fee for this workshop). - Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this workshop due to COVID-19. We hope to offer it in 2021.
Tues. March 30, 2022 8-10AM: Gordon Frankie will be speaking via Zoom at the "Avocado Cafe", sharing the lab's research about how pollinator gardens attract diverse native pollinators to visit Avocado flowers in Greater Ventura. Register for this virtual meeting by emailing cafeavos@gmail.com.
Fri., May 29- Sun., May 31, 2020: The Urban Bee Lab will be teaching a workshop: "California’s Native Bees: Biology, Ecology, and Identification" through the Jepson Herbarium Workshop Series at Hastings Natural History Reserve. Click here for more information about workshop registration. (There is a fee for this workshop). - Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this workshop due to COVID-19. We hope to offer it in 2021.
