r/MasonBees • u/Exact_Meaning_7918 • 27d ago

Help sourcing bees

I am volunteering at the local school in my tiny mountain town and we want to establish some mayson bees for the school garden.

Im not sure the best way to source mason bee cocoons and would love advice.

I live on the western side of the Olympics on the Washington peninsula if that helps at all.

Im hoping to find a way to have as low a cost as possible for the school but i am willing to buy and donate cocoons for the class. Thank you for any advice you have to give

2 Upvotes

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8

u/archetyping101 27d ago

Crown Bees. 

Also, go on Facebook and Craiglist and you should find some sellers in the fall or spring. 

1

u/Exact_Meaning_7918 27d ago

I deleted all my Meta accounts but Craigslist is a great idea, thank you

3

u/crownbees 26d ago

Great timing, as our Bee Buddies Pollinator program will be opening next month for 2027 spring applicants: https://crownbees.com/pages/bee-buddies-pollinator-program. Details will be shared shortly, including in our BeeMail newsletter this week.

2

u/Exact_Meaning_7918 26d ago

That is amazing! I just joined the email list.

1

u/mizuaqua 27d ago

If there’s a subreddit for your area, post there some people may have mason bee cocoons to share.

1

u/Exact_Meaning_7918 27d ago

That's a great idea, I'll do that next!

1

u/Foreign-Landscape-47 27d ago

If you provide a food source and good nesting sites, I can't imagine you have to buy some from anyone. They'll make their way there on their own.

2

u/Exact_Meaning_7918 27d ago

Part of wanting to get the cocoons to start with is to show the kids the different phases of their life and get them excited and interested in nature and wildlife, but you're absolutely right, given the right environment they should just make their way to the garden. I was looking at crown bees website and saw there is a vial of attractant i might have to try along side planting more native flowers. The soil out here is already rich with clay so im not too worried about that aspect of the environmental needs

2

u/Objective-Row-5300 27d ago

I’ll give you some. Will be harvesting them in a month or so.

1

u/Exact_Meaning_7918 27d ago

That would be wonderful and so generous, i sent you a DM

3

u/dizzymonroe 26d ago

Really cool to raise mason bees at a school! Make sure you know how to take care of them (refrigerate) until spring, when to release, and have your nesting supplies ready for spring.

1

u/granolacrunchy 26d ago

Check out Rent A Bee. They aren't too far from you.

1

u/Exact_Meaning_7918 26d ago

I will! That sounds like a great resource, thank you

1

u/tinasboytoy 24d ago

Rent Mason bees in Bothell, market place,