Please see our new campaign at: http://igg.me/at/pollinationgarden2/x/2411804

Thank you!

My name is Lauren, and I want to bring an educational beehive enclosure and pollination garden to my green neighborhood in Seattle, Washington.

Why?

High Point is home to many Somali, Cambodian, and Vietnamese families, and cultivating honey bees is part of our shared heritage.

Being part of the solution is a good thing. Bees are in trouble; we need them, and they need our help.

Pollination – West Seattle has beautiful plants and lush P-Patches– let’s keep them happy and pollinated

Honey to share and enjoy

Increased educational opportunities for kids and adults alike

Background

Honey bees pollinate 30% of all the food we eat and 80% of all fruits and vegetables. The global honey bee population has suffered a dramatic decline in recent years. Wild honey bee populations in the US have decreased by 50% over the past 50 years, and bee colonies maintained by beekeepers have decreased by about two thirds. This is due to a variety of reasons - most of them man-made. Without intervention, the continued demise of these incredible pollinators would have a dramatic effect on our ecosystems and food supply.

I had heard about the plight of the honey bee, but I wasn't fully aware of the situation and importance until I saw the film Vanishing of the Bees. I posted my idea on the West Seattle Blog asking how my neighbors felt about installing an educational beehive in a local P-Patch. The response was incredible and truly inspiring! So here we are, after more than a year, with a beautiful space for the bees and a pollination garden, a huge level of community support, local beekeepers to help us out (one has even taken me under her wing as an apprentice), pledged labor and funding from the High Point Neighborhood Association and Seattle P-Patch for sustained maintenance into the future, and a Department of Neighborhoods grant to get things rolling.

How you can help

We've come so far, but we need your support for the final push. We've gotten here thanks to the excitement and support of people just like you- friends who offered their time, money, expertise, and dedication. Will you join us? 

Every bit counts towards our goal. A donation of $5 buys one square foot of mulch for our garden- $250 fully outfits a novice beekeeper.  

So spread the word! Donate what you can, and tell friends and family. Best of all, come join us! Sign up to volunteer at an upcoming work party, and we'll see you in the garden.

**Updated since campaign created in February**

Good news: Due to continued donated materials, labor and money (outside of our indiegogo campaign), our goal is now $8,000! Wow, big change! We can't change the official goal for this campaign, but wanted to let you know that we aren't as far off as you may think!

What is the money for?

Thanks to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and other contributions, here is what we have:

- Fence for the pollination garden ($3,000 for material and labor)

- Polycarbonate to enable a transparent and secure beehive enclosure ($4,000)

- Remaining materials for the 9' tall beehive enclosure and shed ($3,000)

- Landscaping and grading, etc. ($2,000) - (this includes wood chips, gravel, compost, and plants for gardens, much of this is being donated as well)

- 2 traditional beehives and stands, butterfly house and mason bee structure ($500) - actual cost is $1250, but $750 worth is being donated)

- Equipment rental ($2,000)

- Materials to install a waterline, spigot and sink ($500)

-Translation and interpretation - final community meeting, invitations to meetings and work parties  ($1000)

- Supplies for mosaic (currently being constructed by WSE students) – ($200)

- Permit to build enclosure – ($520)

- Work party supplies, tools, tent ($1,000)

- Honeybees and mason bee larva ($300)

- Stainless steel donor’s sign ($300)

- Pavers ($100)

- Translation and interpretation (four languages) for signs and events so that everyone can participate ($1,500) 

-Solid wooden benches, enough for an entire classroom ($1,000). Acquired free lumbar from a local fallen tree, and help from a local furniture builder)

- Colorful educational signs ($4000) - (total funding goal for signs is $6500)

How your contributions will be spent:

- Colorful educational signs on the enclosure and throughout the park: $2500 (in order to reach $6500 goal for signs)

- Beekeeping equipment, enough to share ($1,500)

- Food and drinks for volunteers during work parties ($1,000)

- 2 additional beehives with frames from Shipwreck Honey -local hive carpenter ($1000)

- WiFi webcam to place at entrance of hive - would create interactive component for visitors, and research opportunities for local educators ($250)

- Small solar panel for basic power ($500)

- Live demonstration supplies ($500)

- Additional educational signs for demonstrations (would purchase with any additional funding left over)

The Impact

The West Seattle Bee and Pollination Garden will teach visitors, residents and school children about bees and pollination. The beehives will be enclosed inside a primarily transparent enclosure. This enclosure heightens the flight path of the bees, minimizing direct human interaction and protecting curious children from getting too close to the hives. The space will be surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees, illustrating the symbiotic relationship of bees and plants.

Schools will be welcome to take field trips to the hives and see demonstrations with the bees. Visitors will learn about bees and pollinators through posted signs and observing the hives. Our community, families and local groups will be welcome to host meetings in the space. Seattle residents and community members will learn new skills and share experiences by being part of this great project.

By hosting bees and educating residents, High Point continues its environmental stewardship. Everyone is invited to our first annual Bee Parade & Picnic on May 19, 2013 to welcome the bees to their new home, learn about bees, and enjoy our beautiful park.