Earlier this year, we asked all our followers to help us by voting in the Australian Ethical Community Grants program for 2020. Thanks to everyone who did vote, we were awarded a grant to fund The Hive - a training program for refugees with a focus on beekeeping and gardening.
In collaboration with The Arab Council, PlantingSeeds will offer 20 places to individuals looking to develop skills in native beekeeping, carpentry and garden design.
The pilot of the free course, to be run in the first quarter of 2021 will take place in South Western Sydney with economic and social benefits for local Arabic-speaking refugees.
The Hive program will teach:
- How to build a native stingless beehive and nesting boxes
- How to manage stingless bees·
- How to split a native stingless beehive
- How to create a special pollinating garden suitable for native pollinators
- Basic business and entrepreneurial skills for social enterprise
Arabic and English-speaking participants are welcome with trainers and interpreters catering to different language skills. Educational materials and facilitated training will be delivered in Arabic and basic English.
Hives created in the program will be used to house future B & B Highway colonies of Tetragonula Carbonaria.
If you are interested in being part of the pilot in any way, please email info@ps.org.au