7/29/18: BEEcosystem is a beautifully-designed indoor observation beehive system, and I think it’s pure genius. An observation hive is a fully functional beehive that includes a see-through portion for observing the bees without disturbing them.

Wandering around Etsy, I have on occasion come across observation hive plans, but they seemed kind of intimidating and looked like a lot of work. But BEEcosystem sends you everything you need, including comprehensively-designed parts, simple instructions, and a robust support system for beginner beekeepers.

Here are a few bee facts:

• More than 100 crops are pollinated by bees in the U.S.
• 1 out of 3 bites of food was pollinated by a bee
• On average, 1 out of 3 colonies are lost each year

While there were 6 million beehives in the U.S. in 1947, today, there are only 2.5 million. This decline is partly due to indiscriminate use of pesticides and diseases like Colony Collapse Disorder, but it is also partly because of a decrease in the popularity of beekeeping. The folks at BEEcosystem are doing their best to make beekeeping appealing to a whole new generation of keepers.

I can see these observation hives being a big hit, not just in homes, but also in schools, restaurants, food coops, anywhere where people need to be reminded of where their food comes from.

Of course, if the $599 price tag is a big too much for you, there are still plenty of D.I.Y. plans out there, but for those of us short on time (and skills), BEEcosystem is a great solution.

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