Hi, my name is James and my business name is "Farmer James". I got into beekeeping and immediately joined the Vermont Beekeepers Association in 2017. The VBA offers a plethora of resources for members, including nurturing beginning beekeepers, sharing information about problems and their solutions, newsletters, workshops, and much more. Its members are commercial honey producers, veterinarians, and people who are simply passionate about bees. I have served on the Advisory Board and as a Member at Large on the Board of Directors. I was given 'Educator of The Year' and awarded Best Tasting Creamed Honey in North America.

My passion for Beekeeping has grown more in community educational projects on the Farm and Outreach and in the community. Farmer James' Apiary has reached many Vermont Colleges, Local Schools (elementary and Middle), Farmer's Markets and Community Events. This Fundraiser would go directly into expanding the Apiary to add employment and educational opportunities. Simply I have no financial resources to increase the population of Honeybees needed for our Agricultural Crops.

I've recently reached a crossroads in my growth and also have run into awful luck financially.

My goals to open a Honeybee Educational, Research, and Visiting Center are becoming a tremendous challenge for me. My finances have dwindled down to nothing, and the agricultural and grant cuts have made it worse. I've run out of the capital to expand and have just enough to manage the 20 colonies currently in my apiary. I hope to reach this monetary goal as its importance is so crucial for children and the community, the ecosystem, and all pollinators and honeybees. I will also be able to use some of the money for transportation to help those who would like to become part of the apiary in some way but lack transportation. Additionally, it will help with a delivery truck for reaching more retail and wholesale markets, as well as for transporting honeybee hives for pollination and transport. These opportunities would help with growing my honeybee farm and offer folks employment.

Thank You and Bee Well

James