MO Hives KC is a Missouri 501(c)3 nonprofit that was founded in 2019 in order to proliferate urban apiaries (bee farms) throughout Missouri. Co-Founder Marion Spence Pierson, M.D. FAAP says, “We have seen urban bee farms work wonders in areas that were previously blighted. And we’ve seen that bees actually thrive in these areas due to their lower levels of pesticides and herbicides. Bees are an important element to our ecosystem and have suffered a severe population decline over the last 20 years. We aim to rejuvenate those populations while also rejuvenating urban neighborhoods.”

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MISSION: MO Hives KC educates and involves urban residents in the creation, preservation and expansion of pollinator habitats in the KC Metro Area, utilizing vacant land to support community health and wellness, as 33% of food depends on pollinators for growth.

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Co-Founder Brian Reeves is an avid beekeeper and teaches a Community Action Team how to maintain healthy bee hives.

The inspiration for this organization came from Detroit Hives. Our first hive installations (2020) are at 1) a vacant property on Wabash Avenue, between 50th and 51st Street, and 2) adjacent to a community garden at Children’s Mercy Hospital, both in Kansas City, Missouri. We look forward to having many more hive installations in the coming years, providing a major benefit to KC’s community gardens. Community gardens are vital for food production, particularly in urban areas where “food deserts” (areas that are underserved by traditional and economical grocers) are common.

 

By creating a healthy urban apiary model that can be duplicated in other Missouri cities, MO Hives KC will inspire communities, provide experiential learning opportunities, amplify community garden yields, increase bee populations, and beautify previously blighted property. 

 

MO Hives KC is grateful for the sponsorship of dozens of organizations. Please consider signing up for an online newsletter from one or more of our sponsors by clicking the links below.

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1. Missouri Department of Conservation | Financial Support

2. Missouri Department of Agriculture

3. Community Builders of Kansas City | In-Kind Donations /Technical Support

4. The Blue Hills Neighborhood Association | Educational/Outreach Partners

5. Kansas City Community Gardens | Technical /Operational Support

6. Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services / Missouri Office of Minority Health

7. The Shumaker Family Foundation | Financial Support

8. The Links, Incorporated | National Educational/Outreach Partners

9. The Jackson County(MO)Chapter of The Links, Incorporated | In-Kind Donations/ Volunteer Support

10. The National Wildlife Federation -STEMReady Gardens 4 Wildlife Program | 2020 Nationally Registered and Certified G4W Garden

11. KCMO Public Schools The African Centered College Preparatory Academy-ACCPA | Educational/Outreach Partners

12. The Jr. National Society of Black Engineers | Educational partnership with ACCPA-NSBE Jr. Chapters

13. GEHA | GEHA Garden-to-Table Test Kitchen Sponsor

14. Deep Roots KC | Native Planting Resource

15. The Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics Community Gardens | Outreach Partner/Extension Apiary Site

16. EVERGY Energy Company | Financial Support Received

17. The EVERGY Green Team | In-Kind Donations Received

18. Gale Communities | Technical Support Given/Operational Support Received

19. William Jewell Nonprofit Leadership Development Program | Educational Partnership

20. Willhaus Honey | Operational/Technical Support and In-Kind Donations

21. The Kansas Bee Company | In-Kind and Technical Support

22. Detroit Hives, Inc. | Technical/Operational Support Received

23. The Honeybee Conservancy | In-Kind Donations Received

24. The Missouri State Beekeepers Assoc. | Technical/ Educational Support

25. Urban American Outdoor TV | Technical Support and Operational Support Received

26. The Carpenters Apprenticeship Union Program | In-Kind donation of carpentry and construction

27. The Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus | Outreach Partners and Technical Assistance Given

28. Computer Impressions | Technical Support

29. Name Brand Identity | In-Kind donation of branding and content support

30. The University of Missouri-Columbia Proteomics Center/ Dr. Michael Greenlief | In-Kind and Technical Support Received

31. The Lockton Company | In-Kind Donations Received

32. The Full Employment Council | Financial Support for Developing Young-Adult Skills Training Program

33. The Small Business Administration | Financial SupportReceived / Technical Assistance

34. The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund-Seed a Legacy Program | Technical Advice/Prospective 2nd Phase Sponsor

35. BeeResQ

36. Crooked Hill Beekeeping

37. University of Georgia KC Alumni Group

38. Beekeepers.com

39. Colt Dunn and Family

40. KC Farm School at Gibbs Road

41. E & J Construction | In-Kind and Technical Support

42. Cornerstone of Care Build Trybe | Community Partner

43. Mala Landscape Architects | In-Kind and Technical Support

44. Missouri Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson | Outreach Partner and Extension Apiary Site

45. LM2 Construction & Consulting | In-Kind Support