Main fundraiser photo

Bees and Sundry Takes Flight

In 2008 I approached Nat and said "hey, we should keep bees". She stared at me as if I'd gone slightly mad. There was more staring and a long moment of silence as she digested the idea and blurted out, in a moment of characteristic eloquence..."you can't just keep bees, who does that?!"

Fast forward 9 years, hundreds of pounds of honey, dozens of stings, 3 relocations, and one bear attack later, and who keeps bees? We do. 

We've decided to turn this mad idea turned delicious hobby turned mild obsession into a small scale commercial and educational apiary - Bees and Sundry. 20 hives. Located in Peyton, CO on the grounds of Ahavah Farm , a beyond-organic farm run by a reformed engineer turned farmer and his large and happy family. Honey for sale, a vast pollination service for the farm, and education, through lessons and hands-on mentoring, for anyone looking to know more.

From a hive inspection in 2011. Pollen, capped, and uncapped honey.

The news of honeybees in peril is widespread and small scale beekeeping is on the front line of combating this problem. In our opinion, the most efficient (and satisfying) way to solve many problems is mostly about rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. Bees and Sundry is our work and our small way of making the world a better place. We're committed to traditional beekeeping practices, using no chemicals and working with our bees natural behaviors to make strong and healthy hives.
 
A single beehive costs about $350 to start. That includes bees, unassembled hive bodies (buying the pre-cut pieces is much less expensive than buying fully assembled hives), and the miscellaneous supplies needed to assemble it. It doesn't include the time and labor to put the hive together, or pick up and install the bees themselves into their new homes. 

Brand new honeycomb is a beautiful pale yellow-white. Hive inspection 2014.

Donations to Bee and Sundry will be used for the purchase of Langstroth hives, beekeeping and honey harvesting supplies, and the bees themselves.  The bees need to be ordered and  purchased by January 15th. Hive kits follow afterward and will be assembled, painted, and placed, by April 15th.

In return for your participation in helping Bees and Sundry take flight, we're offering a portion of the first honey harvest to all donors. Donors of $100 or more will receive a 2 hour lesson in beekeeping and a tour of the bee yard at the farm.

And if you're wondering, a little about us. We''ve been keeping bees for a combined 18 years. Natalie is market manager for the Colorado Farm and Art Market, the only cooperative and guaranteed 100% Colorado sourced market in Colorado Springs, and David is the founder of the Manitou Seed Library, the first seed library in the region.  

In this age of large scale agriculture, impersonal business, and disconnected food, we'd be grateful for your support of Bees and Sundry and our work to make all those things local and personal again.

Thanks for reading.

-David & Natalie
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Donations 

  • Micaela Hill
    • $25 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

David Woolley
Organizer
Colorado Springs, CO

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