Meet the Bees
At Thames River Melons, we rely on our honeybees to pollinate nearly everything we grow, from strawberries in the summer to pumpkins in the fall. Beekeeping is an important part of our farm, and we’re excited to give you the chance to get involved! Put on a suit and follow our beekeeper, Nathan, to the hives, where you’ll use all your senses to learn about beekeeping practices and bee biology. Once you’re finished at the hives, you’ll head back to the farm for a sweet snack and a take-home treat.
Beekeeping activities will vary depending on weather and season. We’ll provide beekeeping suits, veils, and gloves for you to wear. All ages are welcome!
Once you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation email explaining what to expect. Check your inbox leading up to your date in case of extreme weather. Keep in mind that while bees are friendly, and we’ll do our best to keep them calm, stings are possible. We have medical supplies available in case of unexpected emergencies, but please don’t sign up if you have had reactions or have a known allergy to bee venom. We will also have a waiver that must be signed upon arrival.
“Meeting the bees is a wonderful way to spend a morning ‘behind the scenes’ on the farm – and one we highly recommend!
We were warmly welcomed by resident beekeeper, Nathan, who helped us suit up in head-to-toe protective gear before heading to the hives. Nathan’s calm demeanour and relaxed sense of humour made it super easy for us to instantly feel comfortable around the bees, and at no time did we feel intimidated or worried.
Our two-hour visit flew by with Nathan patiently answering all of our questions – and we had a lot! Once the hive was opened, we were introduced to all of the members, including the queen, baby bees, workers, drones and even a robber bee! We learned so many remarkable things about the bees, their behaviour, their environment and their work thanks to Nathan’s incredible knowledge. In all, the experience was pretty magical.
Our morning wrapped up with a farm-to-table snack that included three kinds of delicious sweet melon – a reminder of the abundance made possible by the heavy lifting these tiny pollinators do on the farm.
We can’t wait to meet the bees again in the future. Thank you, Nathan & Team Thames River Melons!”
Nancy, summer 2025 participant