Hands-On Workshops • GTA-Wide
Bioactive & Isopod Terrarium Workshops — Delivered to Your Door
Build a living, self-sustaining ecosystem in a jar — guided start to finish by our expert reptile and invertebrate team. We bring every plant, every sprig of moss, every isopod, and every tool directly to you — homes, offices, schools, or your favourite bar, distillery, or event venue — anywhere in the GTA.
What Makes Us Different
Ours are alive
Most terrarium workshops in Toronto are built around succulents or air plants — beautiful, but static. Because we also run the GTA’s premier mobile reptile experience, we source living clean-up crews (isopods, springtails) and bioactive-ready plants the same way we build our own reptile enclosures: ethically, expertly, and with ecosystems that actually thrive.
Live, self-sustaining ecosystems — real isopods, real springtails, real moss, real substrate layering
We come to you — home, office, school, studio, backyard. GTA-wide.
Expert-led — taught by the same handlers who care for our reptile collection every day
Everything included — containers, tools, substrate, drainage layer, plants, clean-up crew, care guide
Take it home, keep it alive — every participant leaves with a living terrarium and knowledge to maintain it
Choose Your Workshop
Five workshops, every skill level
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Isopod Bioactive Terrarium
Best for: nature lovers, reptile-curious households, team builds
You’ll build: A self-cleaning bioactive jar terrarium with a colony of live isopods (dwarf whites, powder blues, or zebras) and springtails in a layered substrate with live moss and plants.
You’ll learn: The science of the clean-up crew, how decomposers drive real ecosystems, substrate layering, and how to keep your colony thriving for years.
🌿
Tropical Jungle Terrarium
Best for: first-time builders, plant lovers
You’ll build: A closed tropical terrarium with ferns, fittonia, moss, and a drainage layer — a little slice of rainforest in a glass vessel.
You’ll learn: The water cycle inside a closed terrarium, plant pairing, lighting, and why these terrariums can go weeks without being watered.
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Bioactive Vivarium Build Advanced
Best for: reptile keepers, herpetology enthusiasts
You’ll build: A proper bioactive vivarium base — drainage, substrate barrier, ABG mix, leaf litter, plants, and a full clean-up crew — sized for a future reptile or amphibian inhabitant.
You’ll learn: Everything you need to transition from sterile tank keeping to a functional, self-maintaining bioactive habitat.
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Kids’ Moss & Mini-Beast Terrarium
Best for: birthday add-ons, school groups
You’ll build: A kid-friendly moss terrarium with a live isopod or two to observe and care for.
You’ll learn: The basics of what living things need to survive — water, food, shelter — through hands-on exploration.
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Terrarium & Cocktails 19+
Best for: venue events, date nights, bachelorettes, corporate socials
You’ll build: A tropical or isopod bioactive terrarium, paired with a curated cocktail flight from your venue partner.
You’ll learn: Plant science, ecosystem building, and — depending on your host venue — the story behind the drinks in your glass. Relaxed, social, hands-on, and delightfully weird.
Every Single Time
What’s included in every workshop
Every participant walks away with a complete, finished terrarium — no “finish it at home” gaps.
Glass terrarium vessel sized to your workshop type
Layered substrate — drainage, barrier, bioactive soil
Live plants and moss, GTA-climate appropriate
Live isopods and/or springtails (where applicable)
All building tools (tweezers, scoops, misters)
Printed care guide — watering, lighting, feeding
Lifetime email support if anything goes sideways
Simple & Stress Free
How it works
01
Tell us about your group
Share group size, age range, venue, and the workshop you’d like. We’ll confirm availability and send a custom quote within 24 hours — travel included.
02
We arrive & set up
Our handler shows up 20 minutes early with every living thing, every tool, and every supply. We protect your surfaces and leave the space cleaner than we found it.
03
You build, we guide
A 45-to-120-minute guided build, depending on workshop type. Every participant works at their own pace. Every participant finishes.
04
Take it home
Your terrarium is yours to keep. We send you home with a care guide, and we’re on email if you ever have a question about your ecosystem.
Venue Partners
Host a terrarium night at your venue
Run a bar, distillery, café, brewery, plant shop, or event space? Partner with us to host a Terrarium & Cocktails Night (or Terrarium & Coffee, Terrarium & Natural Wine — whatever fits your brand). We bring the full terrarium experience; you bring the room, the drinks, and the vibe.
- We handle ticketing, or you do — your call
- We arrive with every plant, every isopod, every tool, every supply
- We set up on your tables, run the 90-minute guided build, and clean up completely
- You drive F&B revenue during a typically quiet weeknight
- We promote the event to our audience alongside yours
- Flexible revenue-share or flat-fee models — let’s talk
Ideal venues: cocktail bars, distilleries, breweries, natural wine bars, cafés, plant shops, bookstores, community studios, hotel lobbies, and private event spaces.
Questions
Frequently asked
How long do the terrariums last?
A properly built bioactive terrarium can easily last years — decades, even — with minimal maintenance. The isopods and springtails reproduce, decompose waste, and keep the soil alive. We cover long-term care in every workshop and back it up with email support.
Do I need any experience?
None. Our workshops are beginner-friendly by design — we walk you through every step. We also scale up the challenge for advanced builders (like our Bioactive Vivarium workshop).
Are the isopods alive? Will they escape?
Yes, they’re alive — that’s the whole point. They’re harmless, tiny (a few millimetres), and stay happily inside their sealed or partially sealed habitat. They’re one of nature’s most effective clean-up crews.
How much space do you need to set up?
A standard dining table or two folding tables. For larger groups, we bring our own tablecloth-protected surfaces if needed.
What if someone is squeamish about bugs?
Participants can choose the Tropical Jungle Terrarium (no live critters) or simply observe the isopod portion of the build. No one is ever pressured to handle anything.
How far in advance should we book?
2–4 weeks ahead is ideal, especially for weekends. We do our best to accommodate shorter timelines — just ask.
Do you serve outside Toronto?
Yes — all of the GTA: Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Ajax, Pickering, Vaughan, Oakville, and surrounding areas. Travel is billed at $0.50/km from our base.
Can we combine a workshop with a reptile experience?
Absolutely. A lot of our birthday party and corporate clients book both — a 60-minute live animal session and a terrarium build. Ask for our combo pricing.
I run a bar / distillery / café — how do venue partnerships work?
We partner with GTA venues to host public, ticketed Terrarium & Cocktails Nights (or non-alcoholic equivalents). We bring every supply and run the session; you drive F&B revenue. We’ll work out flat-fee or revenue-share terms based on what fits your venue. Reach out and mention you’re a venue partner.
When are you available?
Weeknight evenings and all day on weekends. We’re currently not booking weekday daytime sessions.
Ready to Build Something Alive?
Request a quote
Every workshop is custom-scoped to your group size and type. Tell us about your group and we’ll send pricing within 24 hours — travel at $0.50/km from our base, no hidden fees.