CAMP HILL (July 28, 2011) - Fredricksen Library will hold Bee Local @ Fredricksen Library: A Honey & Local Foods Festival on September 17, 2011 from 1-5PM with FREE admission to the public. Held during September, National Honeybee Month, the Library hopes to raise awareness of the importance of bees to our community and environment, the benefits of beekeeping and backyard gardening, and the critical role they play in our local agriculture and food industries. The Library will highlight sources of local, fresh and sustainable foods and honey, as well as honeybee related products and information on pollinator-friendly gardening techniques.

Held rain or shine, Bee Local @ Fredricksen Library will feature events and information throughout the library.  All events are FREE and open to the public.

Activities and scheduled events include:

Premiere Night

On Friday, September 16, 2011, at 7PM, Fredricksen Library is proud to sponsor a community premiere of Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?, Winner of 10 awards at prestigious film festival across the country, and The New York Times Critic's Pick selection, this is a riveting, must-see film. This will be the film's premiere showing in Central Pennsylvania! For information on the film, please visit www.queenofthesun.com.

Children's Activities, All Day, 1-5PM

Outside on the Library's grounds, children are invited to explore the world of pollination in the PA Friends of Ag Foundation Mobile Science lab with a hands-on experiment on the pollination process. Inside Fredricksen, the Pollock Children's Library will feature special festival day activities.

Bee Local Farmer's Market and Exhibitors, All Day, 1-5PM

Local and honey producers will be on hand at the Bee Local Farmers' Market with local produce, food, honey, and beeswax products for sale to the public, and to answer questions about their farms, including Keswick Creamery at Carrock Farm, Short & Sweet, Yeehaw Farm, Pretty Meadow Farm and many more! Nonprofit educational and membership organizations will be on-hand with information and activities including the PA Department of Agriculture, South Central PA Buy Fresh Buy Local, Cumberland County's Master Gardeners, and Slow Food Harrisburg.

Programs and Speakers

All programs take place in the Library's Ruggaber Community Room.

1:30PM           Beginning Beekeeping         

All wanna-bees are invited to join us for an informational presentation on Beginning Beekeeping. Beginning Beekeeping will cover the basics of getting started in beekeeping, needed equipment, and local resources and beekeeping associations, followed by a Question & Answer period.

2:30PM           The ABCs of CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture)

In partnership with South Central Pennsylvania Buy Fresh Buy Local, join us for the ABCs of CSAs: What is Community Supported Agriculture and What Are Local Options? Have you heard the term CSA (community supported agriculture), but wondered what it means? Have you thought about joining a CSA but wanted more information about the options? Listen as Buy Fresh Buy Local Coordinator Cheryl Burns hosts a panel discussion featuring CSA operators from Jade Family Farm, Joshua Farm, Sunnyside Farm and Yeehaw Farm who will describe the local options, the benefits a CSA offers to both farmer and consumer, and how supporting local foods through a CSA membership allows the community to get to know the farmers who grow our food.

3:30PM           Gardening for Native Pollinators

Alex Surcica, Penn State Horticulture Extension Educator, will guide audience members in identifying native pollinators in their backyards, explain the link between pollinators and our local food supply, and provide tips and resources to create a pollinator friendly garden in your own backyard.

More information and complete listings of events is available at www.fredricksenlibrary.org or by liking Bee Local on Facebook.