Did you know that you can give honeybees as gift? Actually it’s a much-needed investment in beekeepers in developing countries. And here’s the great part – you can make your donation as a gift in the name of that hard-to-buy-for beekeeper. If you’re a beekeeper, well…you may want to do this because it’s a wonderful way to share the buzz of beekeeping.

I’ve been on both the giving and receiving end of this unique gift-giving idea and I’m here to tell you, it feels great from each perspective.

Kiva Micro Loans

If you’ve never heard of them, Kiva is a non-profit organization with the goal of alleviating poverty by providing “micro loans” to create opportunities for entrepreneurs in developing countries. A donation of as little as $US 25.00 can help someone start a small business to support their family.

MacCartney Taylor over at Learning Beekeeping has the best description of the feel-good nature of the Kiva experience. He’s a member of Kiva’s “Endangered Beekeepers Team” whose 132 members (at time of writing this) have made 1065 loans worth $28, 775.

“So I’m a quiet member of Kiva, the microloan folks. When I began, I just loaned to sub-Saharan African women, due to my knowledge of the conditions there. But I joined a ‘group’ on Kiva called the ‘endangered beekeepers’, and now they email everyone when a lendee pops up who’s a beekeeper. We all jump on the loan and if you aren’t fast, that beekeeper is already funded.

It’s a fun way to beekeep without beekeeping. Helping a fellow beekeeper in Armenia, Tanzania, or Turkey get more hives and operating funds to expand. Over there, they are profitable without government subsidies, more than we can say in the US where we have an extra $4 artificially boosting our honey price thanks to the honey packers lobbyists.”

Karma Honey Project

In 2018, the Karma Honey Project was conceived in an effort to increase the honey bee population after Hurricane Maria devastated many colonies in Puerto Rico. The main focus of the project is education and job creation through eco-tourism and beekeeping.

The current honey bee research projects also include High Tech Hives and Aquaponics, Bee Venom Cancer Research and the Dorado Sunflower Fields and Bee Sanctuary. Their mission is to support the regeneration of gAHB (Gentle Africanized Honey Bee) through sustainable and bee-friendly agricultural practices.

Consider a donation in the name of of a friend or family member as a practical & sustainable way to give.

While this may not be the perfect gift idea for every beekeeper, we feel it’s a absolute winner for everyone concerned. Try it, you love it!

Join Kiva’s “Endangered Beekeepers” Lending Team

Karma Honey Project – Bee Adoption