“Cavity Nesting Bee Workshop – with Marika Ai-Li”
Marika Ai-Li is a native bee conservationist with over a decade of experience leading wild bee pollinator education, stewardship and research initiatives. She was the founding vice president of the Native Bee Society of BC, and now works as a Restoration and Monitoring Manager with Project Watershed.
On February 28, our club was buzzing with excitement as 24 enthusiastic participants gathered for our Cavity-Nesting Bee Hotel Workshop. Led by the wonderfully knowledgeable and passionate Marika Ai‑Li, the session opened our eyes to the quiet, essential work of the native bees that call the Comox Valley home.
Marika’s presentation blended science, storytelling, and hands-on learning. She introduced participants to the remarkable diversity of local solitary bees—many of whom work earlier, harder, and more efficiently than their honeybee cousins, and aren’t so quick to sting. We explored their life cycles, nesting preferences, and their vital role in supporting the ecological health and resilience of our gardens.
Participants learned not only how to build a safe and functional bee hotel, but also how to maintain it responsibly to promote bee health, prevent disease, and encourage long-term nesting success. Marika emphasized that providing habitat isn’t just about installing a structure—it’s about stewardship. Clean, well-designed nesting tubes and protection from the elements, and careful seasonal maintenance ensure that our bee hotels remain safe havens rather than a detriment to the native bee populations.
After the presentation, the workshop shifted into hands-on construction of the bee houses. Members brought recycled, weather resistant containers and rolled and bundled nesting tubes to make their personalized bee hotels ready to welcome spring’s earliest pollinators. Each person left with a deeper appreciation for the small creatures that make big contributions.
A heartfelt thank-you to Marika Ai-Li for her warm teaching style, deep expertise, and unwavering passion for bees. And thank you to all 24 participants whose curiosity and dedication will help support a healthier pollinator community here in the Comox Valley.
May your new bee hotels quickly fill with tiny tenants this spring!
The Workshop Committee will look to offer a fall workshop on the seasonal maintenance of the bee hotels so stay tuned for that.
To read and/or download Marika Ai-Li’s instructions on How to Create a Bee Home out of Recyclable Materials, click on the button below.
