We are trying to raise enough funds to cover the replacement cost of three bee colonies this year after we lost all our bees last winter. You can make a donation via either Venmo or CashPay. And for donation of $25 we offer either a box off assorted flavor chocolate bonbons or an XL hand painted Floral Chocolate bar from our local Micro Chocolatrie as a thank you. To donate please see below.

Why we need your help

Here in Ballard—sometimes referred to by local beekeepers as the “Bee Death Zone”—honeybee colonies face unusually high pressure from Varroa mites and yellow jacket predation. As a result, even experienced beekeepers find they need to maintain two to three hives (“an heir and a spare”) just to ensure that at least one colony survives the winter.

A major challenge is that not all backyard beekeepers in the area are equipped to manage Varroa effectively. Many hobbyists just replace lost colonies each spring rather than implementing consistent mite control. Because honeybees forage over a wide area, mite loads don’t stay confined to a single yard—they spread across the neighborhoods, affecting well and poorly managed hives alike. Treatments help reduce mite levels, but eradication isn’t possible, only ongoing control. As colonies weaken under mite pressure, they become increasingly vulnerable to yellow jacket predation in late summer and fall. These wasps target compromised hives, killing bees, consuming brood, and robbing honey stores, killing an entire colony sometimes in just hours. And the wasps come back stronger every year it seems.

It is heartbreaking for every beekeeper to loose their bees, especially when you loose all your hives despite an entire season of care. This year is the first year in a long time we lost all of our bees. It’s been a horrific fall and winter for us and replacing our bees is no longer in the budget.

I need help raising the funds to keep our little Crown Hill apiary going.

We want to thank you for your support with a sweet gift.

We would love to send happy and healthy pollinators to your yard if you live within a 2-3 mile radius of our bee hives. Wether you do or not, for your support of $25 towards replacing our bees we offer you a delicious chocolate treat from our Micro-Chocolatrie. It’s the idea that everyone we asked liked the best after brainstorming how we can raise the funds to help us purchase new colonies this spring. You have 2 options from which to choose:

1. A chocolate bonbon box of 9 assorted flavors, including flavors from our homegrown organic herbs and berries such as Rosemary Raspberry and Strawberry Basil, as well as Yuzu Caramel, Hazelnut Coffee, Mint, Tiramisu, Earl Grey and Gianduja among others.

2. An extra large hand painted Floral chocolate bar, 150 gr,/5.3 oz, that looks too good to eat. Edible luster paints are used to color a bouquet of Poppies, Roses and Forget Me Nots made from Callebaut White, Milk and Semisweet couverture chocolate.

The chocolates will be ready for pick up on either Saturday April 4 or April 25 between noon and 4 pm.  Please leave your email address for a pick up reminder with our Seattle/Ballard Address, and if you have a preference for either Chocolatey Goodness option.