NATURAL BEEKEEPING WORKSHOP … DEVELOP A SAFETY STRATEGY FOR WORKING ALONE ON THE FARM … MUSHROOM CULTURE … FLOWER-FRIENDLY FARMS “BOOST BEE POPULATIONS” … BEYOND FACTORY FARMING …OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

NATURAL BEEKEEPING WORKSHOP
Source: ThinkFarm
Bello Uccello Honeybee Sanctuary, a Certified Demeter Biodynamic Apiary, will be holding its tenth Beginners Beekeeping Workshop based on Biodynamic Principles on Wednesday and Thursday, June l7-18 and a second one on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21. Klaus Langpohl, an experienced certified biodynamic beekeeper, will be your teacher and guide as he shares with you, one-on-one, the Amazing Life of the Honey Bee, inside and outside of the Hive. The workshop is designed to prepare you for your journey to become a Natural Beekeeper based on biodynamic principles. This is an intensive l5 hours of classroom and outdoor, hands-on experiences. (read more)

DEVELOP A SAFETY STRATEGY FOR WORKING ALONE ON THE FARM
Source: AARD
Farm workers are often required to perform tasks alone, particularly during peak seasons such as spring and harvest. Working alone adds an increased element of danger on top of the hazards inherently presented by the tasks themselves. “It is crucial that farm employers or supervisors assess the work area and take preventative measures to eliminate or minimize risks, particularly when employees work alone,” says Kenda Lubeck, farm safety coordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “They should also ensure workers have an effective way of communicating with someone who can respond immediately if there is an emergency.” (read more)

MUSHROOM CULTURE
Source: Harrison Lewis Centre Mark your calendars for this year’s Mushroom Growing workshop, June 5, 6, 7 with instructors David Boyle and John Crabtree at the Harrison Lewis Centre on Nova Scotia’s beautiful South Shore. The weekend program will start with an introduction to mushroom culture with Boyle, and workshops on growing Shitake and using mushrooms as biological control agents. John Crabtree, on the board of the N.S. Mycological Society, will offer workshops including natural history and mushroom identification. Study, grow, eat them. Learn more about their curious culture. The course cost is $275, and includes the instructors’ fee, shared cabin accommodation for two nights, five meals (from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch). (read more)

FLOWER-FRIENDLY FARMS “BOOST BEE POPULATIONS”
Source: BBC Planting farmland with strips of flowers can boost the number of wild bumblebees, a study has confirmed. Not only does it attract foraging bees, but it also encourages nesting, say researchers at University of Sussex. In past decades, many bumblebee species have declined, due to a number of factors, including intensive farming. (read more)

BEYOND FACTORY FARMING
Source: Beyond Family Farming
We are a national organization promoting socially responsible livestock production in Canada. We help communities that are dealing with problems caused by factory farms and factory farm proposals. As an alternative to industrial livestock operations, we promote livestock production that is safe, fair, and healthy for the environment, farmers, workers, animals, neighbors, communities, and consumers. Establishing socially responsible livestock production is a means to reach the overarching goal of food sovereignty – democratic citizen control of our food and agriculture system. (read more)