Stadtbienen - City Bees

The bee populations have been sharply decreasing since the late 1990s. The causes of deaths are plentiful, though monoculture and exposure to pesticides in agriculture and the Varroa mite are seen as the main reasons. The implications are far-reaching: Without bees, there would be no pollination of tomatoes, apples, strawberries, nuts and many other fruits and vegetables. As an effect, our ecological diversity and about a third of our food crops are in danger.

As a non-profit organisation, Stadtbienen aims to do away with the problem of our bees dying by providing easier access to beekeeping and thus increasing the numbers of bee colonies in the future. Therefore we have developed the BienenBox: A bee dwelling which is adapted to the needs of the bees and their keepers.

The BienenBox provides a flexible, ecological and easy way to keep bees - whether at home on the balcony, on the terrace, in the garden or even on the roof. The Box is designed to make sure that the bees live in conditions that are as natural as possible. The aim of the BienenBox is to make beekeeping as effortless as possible, making it accessible for people without prior knowledge. The bees will appreciate your hospitality and return the favor with an average of 15 kg of honey per year.

For now, we want to bring the BienenBox to all German cities. But we won't stop there, our aim is to internationalise our concept further and bring more bees to cities around the globe. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to do something about the problem of our bees dying - both in the city and on the countryside.

Furthermore, we want to create awareness that everyone can make a contribution and do their part in working together to save the bees. We offer workshops and seminars for anyone interested and also bring the box into schools to interest children in this fascinating species.

Our target group? It's you - and it’s us. People living in shared apartments with roof access, the young family with a small garden, the elderly couple with balcony or experienced beekeepers who appreciate simplicity and flexibility.

The death of bees is an ecological problem we must tackle within the foreseeable future. By doing so, we do not only save the bees but also our livelihoods.

You support us, because ...

• You appreciate that a dedicated group is working together to combat this issue.
• You realize the urgency of the issue and would like to contribute to the conservation of bees with your donation.
• You plan to give bees a home yourself and you appreciate that Stadtbienen offers the infrastructure, guidance and support.
• You find the idea of ​​BienenBox interesting and want to promote its optimization.
• You always wanted to produce your own honey.
• You’re all about bees since you have first seen Maya the Bee.

By acquiring a reward of your choice you support our project and we can bring more bees into our cities.

Large scale production
Last year we were able to produce our first small series through self-financing. Today, over 70 people keep bees with the box in their city. Through your support, we can make the BienenBox ready for large scale production. Some of the costs we have already covered with a donation by a foundation that supports our idea. Now, however, we still miss the last part of financing and we hope to bridge the gap with your support.

The following things must be done in order to produce the BienenBox in larger quantities:

• Logistics: Optimisation of the supply chain, optimization of shipment
• Building of customer communication
• Optimising the guidance and support
• Optimisation of the existing box mountings

Further development of BienenBox
When we reach the funding goal, we can give even more people access to keep bees. With your help we can bring the BienenBox to everyone with a suitable window. Therefore a universal mounting must be constructed.