Biosphere
June 2022
Austria

Support for the honey bees

Bees ensure the continued existence of the plant kingdom. But who is securing the bees' future?

When the bees pollinate plants, they inadvertently secure the continued existence of our flora.  However, negative environmental developments are drastically reducing the bee population worldwide.  By supporting the organic apiary in southern Austria through our bee sponsorship schemes, we aim to ensure the honey bee's survival and thereby make a positive contribution to the preservation of our eco-system.

The Bees' value

Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian queen, was aware of the value of bees, even if, in her eyes, their produce was more valuable than the ecological role they played.  Her honey milk baths were famous for miles around and were supposed to have been the secret behind her bewitching beauty.

honey spa

Bees have lived on this planet for around 40 million years.

From an ecological perspective, the bees also contribute to the aesthetic beauty of nature, to a certain extent.  Thanks to their plant pollination - roughly 80% of all agricultural crops and plants growing in the wild are pollinated by honey bees - a wide variety of plants grow naturally in meadows. 

Blumenwiesen gibt es dank der bienen
bienen erhalten unseren Lebensraum durch Bestäubung

Photo by Jared Belson

Bienen 80% Bestäubungstätigkeit

Without bees, wasps and other related insect species, many wild flowers, fruits and vegetables could not be pollinated and would subsequently become extinct.  Bees are thus indispensable for the continued existence of our flora. 

The honey produced by the bees is, of course, also of great value: It sweetens everyday life and serves as a versatile natural remedy.

The causes of bee extinction

Lush meadows and farmland with great plant and flower diversity are becoming an increasing rarity.  Green areas are being turned into concrete jungles, immaculate lawns hold sway in peoples' gardens and the face of agriculture is defined by monocultures.

Monokulturen gefährden die Artenvielfalt
Betonwüsten nehmen Insekten den LEbensraum pic by vincent camacho unsplash
Pestizide verursachen Insektensterben

Bees are fundamental to the continued survival of our plant kingdom and thereby integral to the preservation of our habitat.

The result: the bees' habitat is disappearing.  Ornamental plants or agricultural crops, which are short-lived, cannot provide them with sufficient nutritional variety.  Even the most hard working creature can't perform to the best of its abilities in poor conditions and will simply perish - and the bees are a prime example of this.  Pollution, pesticides, antibiotics, parasites and viruses make the bees ill.  Not only that, but climate change, the changing flowering periods and extended periods of warm weather in winter complicate the bees' survival.

Bienensterben

Those who would like to find out more about the hard working bees, and to what extent they are currently endangered, are strongly encouraged to watch this film, "More Than Honey". 

Support for an organic apiary

Organic apiculture is always accompanied by organic cultivation.  This combination results in strengthened bee colonies and an eco-system, which is protected. 

Organic apiary would like to help to preserve our habitat.  The initial stages for any apiary,  in which the young colonies must mature until there is enough honey to be worthwhile collecting, are crucial. Additionally, it takes a little longer in organic agriculture for the meadows to become lush once again and for the flowers to be in full bloom.

Bienenzucht
Bienenvoll pic by Annie Sprat unsplash
Honig

Honey, as a foodstuff, sweetens our everyday lives and also serves as a versatile natural remedy.

Organic Apiary Amplatz

Our project partner, the organic Apiary Amplatz is a traditional Styrian family business with a deep connection and love for nature as well as 35 years of experience in organic farming. Beekeeping is much more than a hobby or a profession for the family - it is a passion. Should you ever decide to visit the organic apiary in person, you will quickly realize that every single member of the family loves their bees.

 

Become a bee sponsor!

By sponsoring a beehive, you help to ensure the survival of the honey bee. You enable the establishment of a new bee colony and safeguard its care in the first year.

Attention, from July 2022 there are new conditions for your bee sponsorship!

It now includes:

> Donation for a one year bee sponsorship: €170

> Sponsorship of a bee colony, maintained using organic farming methods

> Six 250 gram jars of organic honey with the Greenfinity Foundation logo and merchandising

> Opportunity for a guided tour of the organic apiary Amplatz

Bienenwaben pic by jez timms unsplash

Through your involvement, you will not only make an important contribution to the preservation of our eco-system, but also add some sweetness to your everyday life, as the hard-working bees will deliver six jars of honey to you per year.

 

 All this can be financed with your support:

 

  • A young queen: Cost about 30 - 40€.
  • Court: The queen needs a court as a basis for a healthy colony, which is about 0.5kg bees on 2 to 3 brood combs. These are taken from the existing economic colonies and the cost for this is the equivalent of about 30€.
  • Feeding: Young colonies must be fed in the first summer otherwise they will not develop properly. It is important that they focus on caring for the brood during this time so that the colony can grow. In order for them to spend less time foraging and not to spend all their energy on honey collection, the bees are supported with organic sugar solution. In preparation for the winter, they need a slightly lower fall feeding like the "big" colonies. Total need about 15kg of organic sugar for the whole first year. Cost: approx. 25€
  • Six 250-gram jars of the finest organic honey. Cost: 30€

 

The rest of your donation will be used for expenses such as the treatment of the bee colony in case of parasite infestation by the Varroa mite, the transports of the bees to different flight areas throughout Austria several times a year, which are appropriate for the species and are carried out at night to protect the animals, the lease for the respective installation sites, the care on site etc.

Become a bee friend!

You don't want to take over a whole sponsorship, but still want to contribute to the protection of the honey bee and other insects? Then support the creation of habitat for bees and other insects and become a bee friend!

 

Your donation will help fund:

 

  • Creation of water areas
  • Planting of flowering trees
  • Creation of flowering meadows
  • Construction of dwellings for insects, birds, bats and other natural inhabitants

 

As a token of our gratitude, you will receive two 250-gram jars of the finest bee honey.

The organic Amplatz apiary leads the way

Would you like to see for yourself how a beekeeper works? The aim of all our projects is to continually try and make the public aware of environmental issues. It is for this reason that we organise tours for schools and partners who are interested in the projects. 

Sponsors of the organic apiary who would like to take a behind-the-scenes look at honey production have the opportunity to take part in a tour and tasting.

 

Projekt Info
Project Goals

Securing the survival of the honey bee

Preservation of our eco-system

Projekt Location

Austria, Styria, Sinabelkirchen

Project period
from November 2018
Financing

Beehove sponsorships