About this project
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Bike·a·Bee began as tiny glimmer of an idea I had while beekeeping in Eugene, Oregon, during the summer of 2011. One of the most unexpected and enjoyable aspects of my experience there was becoming a part of the larger community. The beekeeper with whom I was working not only had a bee yard at his home, but he also had more than 13 others scattered throughout the city. One at an elementary school, one in a family’s back yard, one at a blueberrry patch, one at a woman’s permaculture farm ... The list goes on. While we spent the day tending to the hives and collecting honey frames, we also interacted with community members who loved having the hives, believed in being a part of the urban agriculture, and in our food system’s well-being.
Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. Keep tabs with our website. If you're interested in hosting a hive, please send us a note at bikeabee@gmail.com.
FAQ
-
The process of ordering hive equipment, bees and queen bees must begin early in the year. This way we'll have time to build the hives and get our bee orders in to the suppliers in an orderly fashion!
-
We won't be able to have functioning hives until we install the bees in the early spring, and we won't be able to harvest honey until late summer, after the beens have worked hard all summer long gathering nectar and pollen. Since this will be the first year with hives, we don't have any honey stores to give out as gifts immediately after the Kickstarter is funded. Thanks for understanding!
-
It will cover the costs of ten complete hives (boxes, frames, foundations, and tops), paint supplies, extra boxes for hive expansion, packages of bees, queen bees, honey processing equipment (buckets with gates and mesh filters), and jars and lids for honey. We'll also be purchasing a simple bike trailer. There will be various small costs, too, such as shipping costs for all of the equipment, nails to put the equipment together, and paper for honey labels.
-
Yes! The first year honey harvest is unpredictable, but as the hives get established we'll have a more consistent flow. In the meantime you can get delicious local honey from the Chicago Honey Co-op!
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
235
Backers
$8,646
pledged of $7,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 7.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
You'll receive a big thank-you on our website as well as be signed up for our email list! (All reward levels get you signed up for our email list.)
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
All of the above rewards plus: You'll get a hand-written thank-you note on one of our Bike·a·Bee postcards!
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
All of the above rewards plus: We'll send you a 4-pack of some sweet Bike·a·Bee stickers, along with your very own unique hand-drawn bee, complete with its own story.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
All of the above rewards plus: You'll receive a limited-edition silk-screened Bike·a·Bee poster designed and illustrated by me and printed by our partners at Reuse First (http://reusefirst.com).
Pledge $55 or more Pledge $55 or more
-- New Pledge Level! -- You get all of the above, plus a 4oz jar of our raw honey, straight from the Bike·a·Bee hives!
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Attention bike shops - sponsor my trailer! I'm going to need to purchase a bike trailer for my trusted steed. If you're a bike shop or bike nut, please consider this sponsorship level. In addition to the thank-you note, stickers, drawing, and poster, your name and logo will be featured prominently on the Bike·a·Bee website and bike trailer - free advertising as I haul honey frames around the city!
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
We'll hand-paint your name on one of our hives! You'll know which hive, where it resides, and have a picture for proof. You'll also receive the thank-you note, stickers, drawing, and poster.
Pledge $110 or more Pledge $110 or more
-- New Pledge Level! -- You get all of the above, plus a lifetime 20% discount on our raw honey, straight from the Bike·a·Bee hives!
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
We'll make you a superintendent! You'll be the "superintendent" of a honey super, the part of the hive where bees store honey. Your name will be featured prominently on the super, and you'll receive information about your hive, where it resides, and have a picture for proof. What's more, after our first honey harvest, you'll get an 8 oz. jar of raw honey! You'll also receive the thank-you note, stickers, drawing, and poster.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Adopt-a-Hive! You will get monthly updates on your adopted hive, queen bee naming rights, and, if you're local, the opportunity to check-in on your hive with us. What's more, after our first honey harvest, you'll get an 12 oz. jar of raw honey! You'll also receive the thank-you note, stickers, drawing, and poster.
Project By
Connected as Jana Kinsman (620 friends)
Though I'm a Chicagoan through-and-through, I grew up in the suburbs, where I raised butterflies, had pet snapping turtles, and earned the nickname "River Rat" by spending way too much time playing in the Rock River in Oregon, Illinois. My love for natural systems and the outdoors continues to grow as an adult, as I learn to care for honeybees and the community of plants and people they live in.
I enjoy growing and working in a strong community with passionate people, whether interested in design, local food, or bicycles. As a freelance designer/illustrator, I spend my days drawing, cooking various meats, cycling the streets, and enjoying day beers with friends. In other words, the good life.
