DETROIT HONEY AND MEAD PAIRING AT B.NEKTAR

Bees in the D • Urban beekeeping and native pollinator education and conservation in Detroit.

Throughout history bees have been a symbol of prosperity, success, rebirth, and resurrection that we feel mirrors the spirit of Detroit beautifully. This can be observed in much of the iconic architecture throughout the city, such as the Fisher building, the Guardian building, and the Masonic Temple. The city of Detroit is undergoing a second renaissance that’s elevating its arts, technology, and even urban farming. Honey bees and an urban environment can have a symbiotic relationship. We see amazing potential with abundance of rooftops, and vacant lots throughout Detroit that are, for the most part, underutilized. Our bees will travel up to a three-mile radius from their hive to gather pollen and nectar and in turn pollinate the countless green spaces and urban farms throughout the city. This made us realize the vital role honey bees serve as residents of Detroit.

Businesses in Detroit are also seeing the importance of being "green" and sustainable by building green roofs, planting urban gardens, and yes, fostering beehives! We have installations of honey bee hives on Huntington Place's green roof, Detroit Foundation Hotel, Bedrock Detroit’s iconic Free Press Building, and the Michigan DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center. We can also be found in urban gardens at Detroit Abloom, Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI), and Palmer Park. We have built partnerships with many large corporations. Bees in the D has gone from managing 6 hives in 2016, to over 225 hives in 2024. The local honey from our beehives has been featured in both food and beverages at bars and restaurants around the city. Jars of Bees in the D honey have been donated to other charities and small businesses for fundraisers and giveaways to benefit Detroit communities.

We take our passion for teaching to organize and host community events like honey harvests, educational classes on the basics of how to become a beekeeper, interactive children’s learning events, and speaking engagements about honey bees, pollinators, and gardening. The mission of Bees in the D is to create a cooperative effort between residents, schools, organizations, and businesses in the city of Detroit and Southeast Michigan to contribute to both the health of honey bee colonies and the education of their importance to our environment. See what all the buzz is about at www.beesinthed.com Bees in the D is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. • Tax ID: 81-2548442