Greetings Maine School Gardeners!

I would love to make contact with folks on this list with an interest not only in school gardens, but in the very necessary part that honey bees play in the growing of food.

In the past several weeks, Gold Star Honeybees has presented a funding request to Maine's congressional representatives that would help school gardens to host a tended beehive. And not just any type of beehive, but a very green, natural type of beehive - known as a top bar hive, wherein the bees are able to build natural wax honeycomb as they would in the wild.

During the 2009/2010 beekeeping season, Gold Star provided beekeeping services for the L.O.C.A.L. garden planted by RSU#1 in Bath, Maine, including classes for students involved in their summer camp. This inspired us to expand the program to more schools in Maine.

This program, when funded, would not begin until the spring of 2011, but by then we will need to have identified up to 50 participating schools with active garden programs and a suitable site for the placement and support of a Gold Star top bar hive.

If you and your school are interested in such a program, please feel free to contact us at Gold Star Honeybees in Bath, Maine. Our website, with more information about top bar hive and natural beekeeping is at www.goldstarhoneybees.com, and our telephone number is 207-449-1121.

Looking forward to hearing from and working with you!


-- Christy Hemenway
GOLD STAR HONEYBEES
207-449-1121
www.goldstarhoneybees.co

Hi,
Sarah and I are excited to hear about this grant. We went to a training and saw your bee's there. You can count the Benton Garden Project in your grant plan! I will contact you by telephone in a day or so. Thank you so much.

Hi --
I'm glad to hear from you.

I'm disappointed to have to tell you though that the congressional funding request was denied.

There are other opportunities though - grants, or sponsorships... so don't give up.

Might be worth checking with your local health food store, or local organic-ish grocery store...

Give me a call at 207-449-1121 if you'd like, or email christy at goldstarhoneybees dot com.

Talk soon!

-- Christy

Oh, I am so disapointded. I will call you about your bee hives. Thanks.
Lou-Anne

So are we, of course...

If you'd like to get in touch, I just received an email from the ACGA (American Community Gardening Association) and I will be happy to forward it to you - there are some opportunities listed there.

-- Christy --> christy@goldstarhoneybees.com