Best Practice
Our aim is to combine fun with education, learning about the life of bees; their products; their contribution to ecosystem health and the threats they face whilst having the opportunity to experience how it is to be a beekeeper without the physical presence of bees. The participants wear the whole-body beekeeper’s protective suit for unique commemorative photos, and they learn about the beekeeper’s work during every season of the year and the tools used. They prepare foundations for honeycombs, repair, adorn and paint old wooden beehives, make natural cosmetic oils/soaps or multi-purpose food wrappers using beeswax and resin.
Organization
Ecophysis Bee and Nature Centre
A visiting bee farm promoting honey and other beekeeping products of the company’s founders, Georgia and Costas, and organizing many recreational and educational workshops about bees, beekeeping, honey, beeswax, herbs, foraging, meals with local products, etc for schools, companies, families, and individuals.
Impact
The centre educates visitors through its activities and educational centre on the ecosystem services that bees provide and the local and the islands biodiversity. The shop and the experiential activities provide work for local population in an area that job availability is scarce. The location and activities promote rural development while safeguarding the environment and offer an alternative educational activities for tourism and local populations.
Sustainability
The facility is not using any single use plastic and their honey production and products such as the honey and soaps are plastic free. The small amount of waste from guests is separated and recycled. The facility is thinking of expanding their land to accommodate a rain catching tank for their water needs. That includes also a PV system for their energy needs.