Chicago Goes to the Bees!

Bees at O’Hare?

Bees, an airport, and previous offenders all come together in Chicago, in a heart-warming story of “people, planet, profit”.

I first found out about it in 2011, when the project was still finding its feet.  I was interested to find out how the project is doing today.

I’ve blogged before about the problems facing bees, which pollinate much of our food.  Pollution, pesticides and land encroachment are all contributing to dwindling numbers of bees, which could mean potential problems for our future food supplies.

Airports need to be surrounded by “waste” land or space.  Some of the land around Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is being used for bee-keeping.  I like this concept for several reasons:

• It’s making use of otherwise ‘wasted’ land
• We need more bees!
• It’s providing employment for many local people
• It’s providing quality honey-based products to the public
• It offers a second chance to previous offenders who might otherwise battle to find regular employment.

Following up on the project today, I was delighted to find out that it’s been a huge success!  A thriving bee colony, lots of people with jobs, and honey products on sale not just at the Airport shops but also at some Whole Foods stores.

Plus, out of all the ex-offenders employed by Sweet Beginnings, less than 4% have “gone back into the system” – much better than average.

The video below gives the details.  I just love this story!

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