Monday, January 6, 2014

Keep A Hive Alive!

The honey bee should be the poster child for sustainable agriculture because it produces a perfect food that never spoils and it does so without using a plow, pesticides, fertilizer or irrigation. The honey bee has set a standard for sustainable agriculture that is not likely to ever be surpassed.” Mark Beran, Medovina Meadmaster and Beekeeper
Happy New Year Friends! 


New Year's Sunrise: January 1st, 2014 over our fields
New Year's Sunrise: January 1st, 2014 over our fields
We want to give you a chance to “bee the change”! Those of you who have been following us realize the past 2 years have been very low yielding honey years at Algomah Acres Honey Farm. Weather combined with colony die-offs have made it difficult to keep up with the demand for the sweet stuff. Our artisan honey and mead products have gained a following throughout the Upper Peninsula and across the country!


Usually our honey sales help to re-populate our apiary after winter die-offs…but this year the lack of honey has put us at a deficit. We have diversified our products, but nothing quite compares to Algomah Acres Raw Honey. 

Here is how you can help!
1. Visit our blog: CONGRATULATIONS-- you are here! :)
2. Click on the yellow “donate” button (on your right)
3. Decide what amount you would like to contribute to our efforts
4. Sit back and know that you are helping to “bee the change”!
PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO FRIENDS TOO!! 

How are we going to use funds?
1. Purchase colonies of bees to grow or maintain our apiary. 3lb packages are going to go up to about 120$ each this year. Your support could “sponsor a hive”!

Rewards:
1$-25$ original card and lip balm
26$-99$ original upcycled block printed bee shirt (and card/lip balm)
100$ or more: your name on a hive (this summer) plus we will reserve a 1 lb jar of raw honey for you from next year’s harvest! (and the shirt/card/lip balm)


As most are aware, the honey bee is currently under enormous stress. Pollution, parasites, stresses resulting from commercial pollination methods, poor nutrition and a limited gene pool are all contributing to the largest global bee die off in modern times. For more details and also things you can do to help, click the link: http://www.medovina.com/SustainableAgriculture.htm
Yet, we have hope: “The beehive is one of the most successful ways in which the purpose of life has ever been organized….you can almost detect the purpose of life as you stand in the honey-drift downwind…if I just stand there long enough watching the bees…perhaps I’ll understand the purpose of life too”. --Verlyn Klingenborg


Thank you for your continued support of our efforts and our projects! We look forward to hearing from you! Melissa, John, and the bees