About this project
In 2006, a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), resulted in widespread and massive losses of honey bee colonies in the United States.
Nearly one million honey bee colonies died in the U.S. over the winter of 2007–2008. CCD has escalated to a worldwide epidemic, affecting bees in more than 135 countries. If our bees continue to die out we will face severe economic consequences and impact on our food supply.
Certainly the damages inflicted on the honeybees by extensive trucking from one mono-culture to the next, sugar and corn syrup feeding, pesticides and insecticides cannot be denied. Attacks by viruses, bacteria, mites and beetles occur when the immune system is compromised.
What is not looked at (yet!), is the weakening of the bee's immune system and damage caused by mechanized, exploitive and insensitive beekeeping practices which are driven by a bottom-line profiteering mentality. This project will promote awareness regarding these issues and present viable solutions.
Gunther Hauk of Spikenard Farm created a honeybee sanctuary before CCD appeared. The main focus of his honey bee sanctuary is the care and nurturing of bee colonies, including plantings of medicinal forage, use of therapeutic oils, and development of sustainable beekeeping methods. Over the last 35 years, Gunther has had no incidences of CCD or Foul Brood in his apiary.
Gunther has been featured in several award winning documentaries including Queen of the Sun and Vanishing of the Bees. With your help, we would like to create a new video Saving the Honey Bees: Hour of Decision that will cover how-to methods for sustainable beekeeping. This is an aspect that is mostly missing from other documentary videos and we believe it will be a tremendous help to the beekeepers who want to have healthier bees.
The DVD will cover basics about which beekeeping practices are especially damaging and part of the causes of CCD, but will also offer sustainable methods proven to strengthen and heal our weakened honeybees. Anyone who keeps bees, or intends to do so, will benefit from the information in this DVD and so will all of us! It is very important for this message of hope to reach as many people as possible. Our lives depend on honeybees!.
Your pledge will help to:
- Enable the production of a wonderful independent documentary film.
- Educate beekeepers about sustainable beekeeping practices.
- Increase awareness about the current state of the bees and the important role bees play in all our lives.
- Share practical working examples of the work at Spikenard Farm Honey Bee Sanctuary.
- Increase bee, butterfly and pollinator habitat.
- Help small scale and hobby beekeepers get started!
- Increase the overall well being of our honey bees!
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
178
Backers
$12,440
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 9, 2011.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
Access to view pre-production video clips online. This may include early viewing of certain scenes or outtakes which do not get used in the final version of the video. All backers including higher levels will get these updates.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
Your listed in the rolling credits at the end of the video. Limited to the first 50 backers due to space considerations. Also includes a signed copy of the DVD.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
An autographed copy of Gunther Hauk's book, plus an autographed DVD.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
A personal tour of the Honey Bee Sanctuary at Spikenard Farm, plus your name or your organization's name listed on the film's website under "Funding provided by...", plus anautograaphed DVD.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Your name or your organization's name in a top listing on the film's website as a contributer. 10 copies of the finished DVD to give away to friends, plus a personal consultation with Gunther Hauk on organic/biodynamic gardening and/or beekeeping and a tour of the Spikenard Farm Honey Bee Sanctuary.
Project By
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James Vincent
James is an independent film maker, graphic designer and webmaster from Ashland, Oregon. He is working with Gunther Hauk as the director of photography, editor and producer of the documentary film; Saving the Honey Bees: Hour of Decision.
Gunther Hauk
Gunther is a former Waldorf school teacher and has been an organic/biodynamic gardener and beekeeper for 35 years. He has traveled all over the United States giving workshops and lectures on this topic since 1996 and in 2002 published the book "Toward Saving the Honeybee" (re-published in 2008). In 1996 he co-founded the Pfeiffer Center and in 2006 he founded Spikenard Farm, a not-for-profit organization with a honeybee sanctuary at its heart.
