Freighter View Farms

There is something undeniably enchanting about having bees fluttering around the garden. At Freighter View Farms, I’ve embraced the joy of keeping leafcutter bees, these charming, gentle creatures that are not only wonderful to observe but also incredibly beneficial for my garden. Each time I watch them working, buzzing softly from flower to flower, I feel a sense of connection with the natural world that is both humbling and magical. These bees are solitary by nature, completely unlike the honeybee colonies that most people imagine, and the peace they bring into my garden is something I cherish deeply.

This journey began when I decided to build my own leafcutter bee house, as seen in the pictures here. It’s a simple yet effective structure—rows of carefully stacked nesting trays inside a cozy box, facing the sunlight where it stays warm and inviting for my little friends. The nesting trays are full of drilled holes that mimic the natural cavities leafcutter bees love—inviting them to make their homes right here in my garden. These houses are such a delightful sight, especially when illuminated by the golden glow of a sunset over the bay.

The bee house is placed near my blooming garden vegetables, where the bees can forage and pollinate freely. As summer unfolds, I receive my bee cocoons from Kind Bee Farms (a fantastic source for keeping bees like these). I usually time my delivery for late June, just when my vegetable garden is in full bloom. This way, the leafcutter bees can get straight to work, pollinating tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash, ensuring a rich harvest later in the season.

The Life of Leafcutter Bees: Beauty in Simplicity

Leafcutter bees are solitary bees, meaning each female is her own queen, and they do not form colonies like honeybees. This makes them uniquely gentle and easy to keep in a garden. They are so docile, in fact, that I can stand mere inches from the bee house and watch them dart in and out, collecting leaf fragments and pollen. There’s no aggression—just the calm, industrious hum of bees going about their work.

You might notice small, almost perfect circles cut from the leaves of your garden plants—that’s the signature of the leafcutter bees. They snip pieces of leaves from waxy plants like roses or lilacs, and these cuttings are used to create their nesting chambers. Each leaf piece is carefully rolled and tucked into a nesting hole, forming tiny cells for their larvae. Sometimes the capped ends of the nesting chambers are different colors depending on which plant was used—pale greens, earthy browns, and sometimes even a soft red from rose leaves. These small details, the colors of the chambers, bring a sense of wonder—a reminder of how beautifully nature repurposes every little thing.

Leafcutter bees are tireless pollinators, and they work wonders for my summer crops. With their help, my vegetables grow fuller, healthier, and more abundant. Watching them, I’m reminded of the perfect harmony that exists in a thriving garden—the bees, the flowers, the vegetables—all intertwined, supporting one another.

The Art of Keeping and Caring for Leafcutter Bees

The process of keeping leafcutter bees is wonderfully simple and immensely rewarding. In late fall, after the summer garden has faded, I collect the bee cocoons from the nesting house. This is a careful process: I disassemble the nesting trays and gently extract the cocoons, which are small, dark, and filled with potential. These cocoons are stored in a cool, dry place for the winter—usually in a small container in my garage, where they remain safe and insulated from the elements.

When the warmth of late spring arrives, I prepare the bee house for their return. Nesting trays are cleaned, restacked, and positioned where the early morning sunlight can reach them. Then, the cocoons are placed in a small container with an opening, allowing the bees to emerge when they’re ready. It’s always exciting to watch the first bees emerge—stretching their wings and immediately setting off to explore the garden. By late June, I supplement my bee population by ordering more cocoons from Kind Bee Farms, ensuring that I have enough pollinators to support my blooming summer vegetables.

The bees’ presence turns the garden into an even more vibrant place. Leafcutter bees are solitary, yes, but they’re communal in spirit—each one adding to the greater good of the garden. They move with purpose, gathering leaves, visiting blooms, and laying eggs in their neatly constructed chambers. These moments, watching them work, are some of my favorites. There’s a certain meditative quality to it—standing among the flowers, the air filled with the scent of tomato vines and the hum of bees, as they weave their way through the garden.

A Garden Transformed by Bees

Keeping leafcutter bees at Freighter View Farms has transformed my relationship with the garden. There is something inherently romantic about the act of nurturing these gentle creatures—of watching them flourish and knowing they, in turn, are helping my plants grow stronger. The bees are not just visitors; they are partners in the garden’s cycle, helping to bring each season’s story to its fullest bloom.

The bee house, as the sun sets behind it, becomes a symbol of this partnership. The delicate holes of the bee trays glow in the fading light, each one filled with the promise of new life. And as I walk through the garden, watching bees return to their nesting holes, there’s a deep satisfaction in knowing that I’m playing a part—however small—in keeping this incredible cycle alive. Keeping leafcutter bees isn’t just about better pollination or bigger harvests—it’s about nurturing a connection to the natural world, about marveling at the intricacies of life, and about finding joy in the gentle hum of wings on a summer’s day.

If you’re thinking of bringing leafcutter bees into your garden, I wholeheartedly encourage it. They’re easy to care for, endlessly fascinating to watch, and profoundly beneficial to the health of the garden. Whether it’s the beauty of their leaf-cutting artistry, the gentle colors of their nesting chambers, or the joy of seeing your garden thrive under their care, leafcutter bees bring a sense of wonder that every gardener should experience.