Bee Buddy Program

Description

If you’re a Bee Buddy, get ready for some sweet rewards while helping us save the bees! With a Bee Buddy sponsorship, you can support your very own honey bee hive—without the risk of getting stung! That’s because we take care of the beekeeping for you. In return, you’ll receive the equivalent value in honey from the best local sources, along with other exciting perks. It’s “Stinging Edge” technology—minus the sting!

We’re proud to be working hard to develop a stronger, more resilient honey bee—our very own Illinois Hearty Honey Bee. This locally adapted queen and her colony are bred to withstand the challenges that threaten hives across the state. Your sponsorship directly supports our mission to produce healthy, thriving bees for Illinois and beyond.

Bees worldwide are struggling due to modern environmental stresses, and scientists and beekeepers alike are raising the alarm. Our solution? Get more people involved! A Bee Buddy sponsorship gives you a personal connection to the world of bees. We’ll manage the Bee Buddy hives and keep you updated with photos, videos, and insights into the fascinating social life of honey bees. Plus, we host exclusive Bee Buddy outings during the summer, where you’ll get to visit the bee yard, inspect a hive, and even watch as honey is extracted.

Watch your hive grow, see your bees in action, and enjoy the sweet rewards of your partnership. Join us in making a difference—one hive at a time!

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There are two levels of Bee Buddy sponsorship:

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BEE BUDDY – Super Sweet: ($230)

WHAT DID YOU PURCHASE?

• Honey Bee Colony – This covers the cost of a colony of honey bees
• Labor costs – Covers 50% of the cost to manage a hive for 1 year
• Helps Fund The Queen Project – Helps fund the save the bees queen rearing project
• We provide a fully assembled bee hive for your colony.

WHAT DOES A SUPER SWEET BEE BUDDY RECEIVE?

• First 20 lbs of honey – The Super Sweet sponsor is guaranteed to receive the first 20 lbs of honey from the hive. Unfortunately, we can’t control the weather, and it is possible the hive will produce less than 20 lbs before winter. In that event, we will extend your guarantee to a second year until you receive a total of 20 pounds of honey. The bee farmer like any farmer lives year to year with the weather. You too can experience that same excitement or disappointment as the season progresses.
• Second 20 lbs of honey – The sponsor receives the ability to purchase a second 20 lbs of honey at $10 per pound. All honey sold after the second 20 pounds will be sold at market price.
• Visitation Day – Come see your bees. A scheduled visiting day will be set to see your bees with an opportunity to look through the hive, and maybe even spot a queen.
• Online Updates – Online (website) updates with pictures and videos will accompany each hive throughout the summer.
• Name Your Hive – Of course you get to name the hive, and its queen. We’ll label your chosen hive and queen name on your sponsored hive.
• Honey Harvest-  We’ll let you know when the honey is ready to pick-up. The exact date depends on the Chicago weather and what the bees tell us about the flowers. Some hives will have honey in July, but always by September.

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BEE BUDDY – Sweet: ($130)

WHAT DID YOU PURCHASE?

• Honey Bee Colony – This covers half the cost of a colony of honey bees
• Labor costs – Covers 25% of the cost to manage a hive for 1 year
• Helps Fund The Queen Project – Helps fund the save the bees queen rearing project
• We provide a fully assembled bee hive for your colony.

WHAT DOES A SWEET BEE BUDDY RECEIVE?

• First 10 lbs of honey – The Sweet Bee Buddy sponsor is guaranteed the first 10 pounds of honey from the hive. Unfortunately, we can’t control the weather, and it is possible the hive will produce less than 10 pounds before winter. In that event, we will extend to a second year your guarantee until you receive a total of 10 pounds of honey from the hive. The bee farmer like any farmer lives year to year with the weather. You too can experience that same excitement or disappointment as the season progresses.
• Second 10 lbs of honey – The Sweet Bee Buddy sponsor receives the ability to purchase the second 10 pounds of honey at $10 per pound. All honey sold after the second 10 pounds will be sold at market price.
• Visitation Day – Come see your bees. A scheduled visiting day will be set to see your bees with an opportunity to look through the hive, and maybe even spot a queen.
• Online Updates – Online (website) updates with pictures and videos will accompany each hive throughout the summer.
• Honey Harvest-  We’ll let you know when the honey is ready to pick-up. The exact date depends on the Chicago weather and what the bees tell us about the flowers. Some hives will have honey in July but always by September.