Sustainable Urban Beekeeping
Whether you are interested in the many uses of honey and its by-products or are hoping to care for your own hives, learn from experienced beekeepers who put the health of the honeybees first.
Changes to Sustainable Urban Beekeeping at the Humber Arboretum
Please note that as of 2025, the Humber Arboretum is no longer offering a full certificate program in Sustainable Urban Beekeeping. Instead, we will be offering a variety of stand-alone workshops suitable for various skill levels and interests.
Watch this page for updates with the scheduled workshops.
Note for Existing Certificate Participants
If you were working towards the Sustainable Urban Beekeeping certificate and have not yet been contacted regarding how to complete the certificate, please email us at arboretum@humber.ca
Listening to the bees.
About the Instructor
Fran Freeman has been managing honey bees in both urban and rural settings for over a dozen years. With her partner John Coffman she tends the hives at the Humber Arboretum and both campuses of Humber College, as well as the hives at the YMCA’s Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre near Nobleton.
As sticky bees urban honey & hive consciousness, Fran markets sustainable hive products including honeys and healing salves and runs workshops on bees and sustainable beekeeping with a particular emphasis on keeping bees in the city using organic methods. Assisted by John, Fran teaches all of the Sustainable Urban Beekeeping courses at the Humber Arboretum.
Read an interview with Fran on NOWtoronto.com
