The official Ribbon-Cutting to open Toe Cane Beekeepers Association’s Educational Apiary will be held on Monday, April 14, at Mayland Community College near Spruce Pine (8207 US-19 E). The public is invited to the ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m. with a short program to recognize and thank the many local businesses, non-profits and generous donors who have supported the club’s educational efforts.
The Apiary (bee yard) has been a goal of the Toe Cane Beekeepers Association (TCBA) for many years. It is hoped that the facility, which will contain several active honey bee colonies, will bring beekeeping out of the textbooks and lecture halls and into real life with hands-on opportunities to learn about honey bees.
Mayland Community College championed the establishment of the Apiary by agreeing to host the bee yard on its campus, including building a secure fence to protect the bee hives. A significant grant from Mountain Air Community Fund that was awarded the summer of 2024 made the final preparations for the site possible. TCBA members have made monetary donations as well as provided donated bees and other beekeeping equipment, which will allow beekeeping classes and educational field trips for schools and 4-H demonstrations. The Mayland Spruce Pine campus allows for a centralized and safe environment suitable for many community activities…