The Student Farm Club will be hosting a Beeswax Wraps Workshop on Thursday, March 18 from 6-7:30 pm! All are welcome to attend this fun, sustainability-focused event. Beeswax wraps are moldable coverings that can be reused over and over to cover food and containers. They are a great way to reduce the use of single-use plastic food coverings, and they are becoming increasingly popular in kitchens around the world. Penn State students can get their supplies for the workshop for FREE! State College-based students can pick up kits for two wraps on campus, and remote students can have their supplies shipped to them for free while supplies last. Continue reading for information about what you need, the presenter, and how to register!
Materials Included in Kit (only available to students):
- Wax Mixture: Contains 2 oz of beeswax or 1/2 cup of beeswax pellets, 1 heaping tablespoon of pine resin, and 2 teaspoons of jojoba oil in a ½ pint Mason jar. The wax mixture will be used to make the wrap moldable.
- 2 Pieces of Cotton Fabric: One piece will be used for each wrap. Each cloth should be roughly 14.5×14.5 inches.
- Paintbrush: Brushes will be 1-1.5 inches and flat. For those using their own supplies, keep in mind that the bristles will be covered in wax during the workshop, so the brush may not be usable afterwards.
- Tin Foil: Foil will be used to cover cookie sheet, and may be used to extend the sheet if needed.
- Stir Stick: Stick will be used to mix wax as it melts over the stove.
Kits should be picked up between 3-5 pm on Wednesday, March 17, or Thursday, March 18 at the Vegetable Cellar on University Park campus. The Vegetable Cellar is located across from the north side of Eisenhower Auditorium. Remote students can request their kit to be shipped to them for free in the registration survey.
Participants Must Provide:
- Stove Top and Oven
- Cookie Sheet: Should be big enough to hold 12×22 inch cloth. If your cookie sheet is too small, you can use tin foil to extend it.
- Cooking Pot: Must be able to hold a few inches of water.
The workshop will be led by Kate Anton. Kate works for the Grozinger Lab and Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State as an apiarist, and she has been beekeeping since she was 12 years old. Now, she manages 75 research colonies and specializes in queen rearing in breeding. As she leads the Beeswax Wrap Workshop, Kate will teach participants about honey bee biology, wax production and the history of beeswax in human society. Kate will gladly answer any questions participants have about the wraps or pollinators!
We hope to see you at this exciting workshop! It’s going to be all the buzz! Please register by clicking the button below and filling out the form. A Zoom link will be sent to you prior to the event. Any questions about the event or registration can be sent to Meg Mitchell at mpm5885@psu.edu, or studentfarm@psu.edu.