Name: Solitary Bee Box

Instructor: Tim Webb

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner

Age: 18 years old and above

Date: Sunday, March 16th, 2025 from 9am to 5pm

Solitary Bees:

Solitary bees make up over 98% of the more than 4000 native bee species in the United States. Yet, the average person is likely more familiar with the (non-native) honeybee who goes back to the hive buzzing with a queen, her workers, and her mates. Solitary bees on the other hand, are cavity-nesting pollinators that play a crucial role in your garden’s health. Known for their gentle nature and impressive pollination abilities, these bees are incredibly efficient – pollinating up to 95% of the flowers they visit. Each female builds her own nest to raise her young. By providing a Solitary Bee nesting box you are supporting the local ecosystem and boosting the native environment. There are thousands of native bee species in Texas, with two of the more common ones being Mason and Leafcutter bees.

Class Description:

In this one day class, each student will build their very own Solitary Bee Nest Box (commercial value approximately $150). The box measures approximately 14 inches tall, by 7 inches wide, by 7 inches deep. The box includes a triangular-shaped nursery drawer where cocoons incubate and young bees are hatched to begin their journey. The box also houses a 5 5/8 inch wide, 8 ½ inch tall and 6 inch deep nesting cavity. Students will make 9 reusable nesting box trays with holes sized for Mason bees or Leafcutter bees or a mixture of the two. While not included in the class, the box can also house hundreds of small reeds of various diameters as well as cardboard bee tubes to provide nesting cavities as well. The box can be mounted on a pole or on a fence, wall, etc. The class will include an ingenuous pole-mounting system that utilizes EMT conduit and re-bar to optimize box location in native Texas open prairie lands. The box will be made out of ¾ inch thick cedar wood and the nesting trays will be made from alder wood, which solitary bees prefer.

In this beginner class, the students will learn to use a variety of power tools and techniques to build the box. We will use a miter saw to crosscut parts to length, a table saw to rip parts to width, a drill press to create holes for the hatchery door pull and bee exit, as well as a router to cut the nest tray grooves. We will also use a Festool Domino to join the two roof sections via a glued miter joint as well as a drill and countersink bits for glued butt joints to form the box structure. Finally, we will use a 23-gauge pin nailer to secure the roof with glue to the box.

What to Bring:

• A desire to learn some new skills in a fun, safe and supportive environment. – A positive attitude to share in a community of craftmanship.
• Drinks and snacks (if desired). We will take a one hour lunch break where students can go out for lunch.
• Measuring tape, pencil and eye protection
• Combination Square
• Hearing and dust protection (optional)

All materials (cedar and alder wood, screws, glue, dominos, EMT conduit, pole connectors and straps, re-bar, rubber bands, nursery plastic tray, etc.) and tools are provided by the school.

If you have other woodworking tools that you feel would be beneficial, please feel free to bring these as well.

Austin School of Furniture has the right to cancel this class at anytime if the minimum amount of students is not reached.

See our Refund Policy here