About Alvéole

Populations of bees, bumble bees, butterflies and other pollinators are declining around the world. This accelerating disappearance is mainly attributable to industrial agriculture (monocultures, massive use of pesticides and habitat loss) and climate change. Synthetic pesticides, in particular, threaten the very foundations of biodiversity. Alvéole aims to combat this trend by installing beehives around urban areas and educating people on the importance of pollinators. Alvéole’s method of urban beekeeping brings city dwellers together around a project that allows for the repurposing of an unused space, making it possible to highlight a variety of issues related to the environment, industrial agriculture, pollination and greening, while producing local, artisanal honey.

Project Description & History 

Alvéole installs beehives on rooftops across the city and uses the hives as a way to educate businesses, organizations, and schools about beekeeping and our food system. It’s a turnkey service, meaning they provide all the care and maintenance the bees need to thrive. The service includes a hands-on educational program where people participate in workshops to learn all about the role and impact of pollinators on our everyday lives. At the end of the season, Alvéole harvests the extra honey produced by the bees and gives it all back to their hosts in jars with their own official logo, which they then share with their network. Alvéole’s goal is to make people fall in love with bees, which in turn will make them fall in love with nature, completely changing their sense of responsibility towards the environment.

Community Impact

For the hosts of the beehives, Alvéole offers immersive, hour-long workshops aimed at building a bridge between people and the beekeeping project, setting the table for deeper, more meaningful interactions with bees. Alvéole offers two workshops per projects, but all tenants are engaged in the projects with anywhere from 100 – 500+ people. To truly maximize a beekeeping experience, people need to engage directly with the bees. Workshops are a powerful vehicle for education, especially when connected to a hive. After a well-executed workshop, participants become mobilized ambassadors for bees and all pollinators, helping shed light on important issues related to the environment.