Kind Bees Review

This is my second time getting leafcutter bees from Kind Bee Farms.

The first time was in 2021 when I was in a much smaller backyard in the middle of the city. Initially, I was quite scared to open the box and let the bees out, but know that even though they will swarm and be very active, they live up to their name and are actually very gentle and will not sting you or your children! The whole experience of opening up the box and setting them into their little bee house was extremely enjoyable, and I loved knowing that my garden would have increased pollination.

However, that first year, I did a few things wrong.

My first time with Kind Bees was not as successful as it could have been. The first thing I did wrong was releasing the bees on a day that was too cold. Initially, when I released the bees in the afternoon, it was very nice, warm, and calm—an ideal temperature and scenario for leafcutter bees. However, four short hours later, it was cold, windy, and rainy, and the bees were not happy.

The second thing I did incorrectly was hanging the bee house too high. I knew it had to be low before hanging it, but it wasn’t low enough. I probably hung it about four to five feet above the ground when it should have been more like three feet above.

Initially, things still went relatively well because I had lots of flowers and plants that the bees liked. However, it didn’t take long for the bees to like my neighbour’s yard better. I even tried it twice that year, and they still liked my neighbour’s yard better! At least pollination happened in some form.

A garden with colorful flowers blooming, including pink, orange, and red blossoms. The backdrop features a grey wooden fence with a lattice top, partially shaded by a tree branch overhead. Green foliage is abundant, creating a lush, vibrant scene. — You can see my bee house from 2021 behind the stock!

Cut to 2024: my second time with Kind Bees!

This time has been way more successful, as we had Layne from Kind Bee Farms come out and help us. We attached the house to the side of a raised bed with plenty of cut flowers facing the perennial garden, which is a much better setup for the bees. Nearby are grape leaves, and in the other direction, there are tomatoes—all things that leafcutter bees enjoy.

The kids and I quickly noticed the little bees flitting around the yard. We had great fun finding bees and getting them to sit on us to see if they were male or female. Fun fact: You can tell the difference between leafcutter bees by the colour of their eyes! Male leafcutters have green eyes and female leafcutters have black eyes.

My kids were a bit older this time, so I included them in releasing the bees (which you can watch below). They had a blast! Initially, they were a little scared, just like I was back in 2021. But Layne and I reassured them that the bees would not harm them, and once we released them, they were overjoyed. They talked nonstop about the bees afterward and still mentioned them every chance they got days later!

If you’d like to boost pollination in your garden and get your own set of leafcutter bees, visit the Kind Bee Farms website and use code SHIFTINGROOTS10 to get 10% off your order.

Note: It’s ideal to order your bees to arrive between June and August. At the end of the gardening season, you can place your bee house in a shed or garage (or any protected space that is still cold) and then take it out again sometime the following June when it starts to warm up. Even though your leafcutter bees should reemerge at that time, it’s always a good idea to get a new set of bees yearly for more of that awesome pollination!

A close-up of a bee collecting nectar from a white flower with a yellow center in a lush garden. The background is out of focus but shows various flowers and greenery, creating a serene and natural setting.

Related: 5 Easy Ways to Increase Pollination in Your Vegetable Garden

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Happy gardening!