Sweet Beez, Inc., Rochester’s urban beekeeping group dedicated to community development in the Southwest quadrant of Rochester, begins a unique program in El Sauce, Guatemala.
Sweet Beez has partnered with immigration advocacy not for profit, Alterna, to begin a community beekeeping cooperative in the hills of Northwest Guatemala. Sweet Beez has committed to financing the program that includes employing a local “Mam” beekeeper as the leader of the cooperative. Ten coffee farming families have each started their own honeybee hive for the purpose of increasing coffee yields (pollination) and, of course, providing the bonus of honey. The ten families have also each committed to donating a portion of their proceeds to their neighbors and to Sweet Beez, Inc. and Alterna.
Sweet Beez has plans to travel with teens from Southwest Rochester neighborhoods to visit the new beekeeping cooperative. A number of teens have taken special interest in honeybees through helping with community garden hives and taking part in some of Sweet Beez’ educational programs. The next trip is coming up quickly and promises to bring exciting new information about a local school that will be partnering with Sweet Beez to inspire future generations.
So, what does this have to do with Pro Bono Legal Services? You might recognize the founder of Sweet Beez, Inc. as VLSP’s very own Bryan Babcock!
For more information, check out: www.sweetbeez.org.
