We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on April 19, 2012.

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New York City's largest apiary, which will have over 25 bee hives and produce more than 1,000lbs of honey each year.

This spring Brooklyn Grange is launching New York City’s largest commercial apiary, which will include at least 25 bee hives and produce over 1,000 pounds of honey. The project will also include an apprenticeship program with a “pay-it-forward” twist. The program will enlist and train dozens of aspiring urban beekeepers, who will receive bees of their own if they complete the apprenticeship and commit to mentoring new apprentices the following year. Our beekeepers will also undertake a full-scale bee breeding program to create a line of local queens, genetically adapted to New York City’s climate.We are thrilled to be undertaking this project and ask you to help with a small contribution to ensure that the apiary is well-equipped.

Bees are not only excellent honey-makers, but they serve a critical environmental role in New York City’s ecosystem, pollinating the millions of flowering plants and trees in our parks, community gardens, and urban farms. Without bees our food supply and our City would suffer, and we are opening this apiary with the goal of promoting the local beekeeping movement and educating New Yorkers about the many wonderful contributions that bees make.

The $20,000 that we are raising through this kickstarter campaign will pay for the bees themselves, the hives where they live, and other beekeeping equipment including smokers, safety masks and beekeeping tools for our beekeepers and apprentices. We want the apprenticeship program to be free for all participants, and we need your help to make that possible.  The money will also pay for fencing around the apiary, a storage container to keep our equipment out of the weather, and a tent where we can hold workshops and training sessions in inclement weather.

This is the Brooklyn Grange's second Kickstarter campaign.  Our first project was in the spring of 2010, when we raised crucial funding towards starting our first rooftop farm on a 6-story building in Long Island City, Queens.  Since then we've grown over 25,000 lbs of fresh vegetables for the community, and we are excitedly beginning our third season in Long Island City.  We will also be starting a new farm on the 11-story roof of building #3 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

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447
Backers
$22,308
pledged of $20,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding period
Mar 20, 2012 - Apr 19, 2012 (30 days)

  • Pledge $10 or more

    131 backers

    Adopt-A-Drone! We'll mark a live drone with a small dot of bee-safe paint, name it after you, and send you its photo!

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    108 backers

    Brooklyn Grange Apiary Tote Bag. Use it to carry around your local honey and fresh veggies!

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    55 backers

    A 4oz jar of Brooklyn Grange honey, made by the finest bees in NYC! Pick it up at one of our weekly farm stands if you're in town, otherwise we'll mail it to you.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    5 backers

    Adopt-A-Drone VALUE PACK! By popular request! Want to name multiple drones after multiple people? This is the option for you! We'll mark 5 separate drones with bee-safe paint, name them after 5 friends (or enemies!) of your choosing, and send you the pictures!

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2012
  • Pledge $75 or more

    14 backers

    Our newly added prize - A 4oz jar of Brooklyn Grange honey, plus a bag of vegetables from the farm! Pick it up at one of our weekly farm stands this summer in Brooklyn or Queens. Get what's in season!

    Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    39 backers

    Beecome a sponsor! We'll paint your name on a hive dedicated to all our backers of $100 and above. If you're local, you can come and paint your signature in person! If not, we'll send you a photo and information about the hive. Either way, we'll send you a 4oz jar of honey from our apiary!

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $200 or more

    4 backers

    Tour the apiary! We'll give you a tour of the bee yard, plus a complimentary tote bag to take home, an 8oz jar of honey, and add your name to our sponsor hive.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    6 backers

    Workshop: Intro to Beekeeping. Come out for a half-day workshop at the apiary, learn about urban beekeeping, and take home a complimentary tote bag. We'll also send you a 16oz jar of honey and put your name on our sponsor hive!

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    2 backers

    The "Liquid Gold" Package. Includes a private tour of the apiary next time you're in the city, a tote bag, a 16oz jar of honey, and a bag of fresh vegetables from our rooftop farm. On top of that, we'll name a queen bee after you!

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012

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