10/02/2026
A September visit to Mr. Beekie’s hives and gardens on the east side of St. Paul has become a favorite Laurel tradition. This year, the bees had recently been treated for mites, so we couldn’t see them up close. The students still had the opportunity to examine a honeycomb frame and, as always, we came away having learned something new.
One of our discoveries this year was bee bread. Bee bread is pollen that bees pack into the honeycomb and allow to ferment slightly, creating a nutritious food source for the hive.
We also added a new activity to this year’s field trip. The students gathered dandelions and plantain, which we will dehydrate and save for a spring handicraft project.
We returned to school with fresh produce from Mr. Beekie’s garden, delicious honey from his bees, and plenty of excitement for the field trips still to come.