NH Bee Initiative

13-06-2018

The New Hampshire Honey Bee Imitative

The support for the NH Honey Bee Initiative’s first action, joining muralist Matt Willey’s world-wide endeavor (www.TheGoodoftheHive.com), is amazing, thanks to so many generous donors, especially you!

The Initiative has been featured in two lengthy articles in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript and the Keene Sentinel as well as an editorial enthusiastically in support of this endeavor. Kin and I have met with three classes from two different area schools, and have presentations with several organizations, including Kiwanis, Rotary and the New Hampshire Beekeepers, scheduled over the next few weeks.

Help spread the buzz by sharing the link to this campaign http://c-fund.us/gbb and letting your friends and families know that you are part of such an exciting effort. Go bees!

17-06-2018

New Hampshire Honey Bee Initiative

Dear Friends,

The mural campaign is going well thanks to the enthusiastic response of so many who have generously contributed both on- and off-line. Heartfelt thanks to all who are supporting this project! It’s become its own hive of “worker bee” activity.

This momentum will continue with your help. Kin and I would be happy to share a bit of bee knowledge and updates about the mural with your groups and organizations. If you would like a couple of enthusiastic speakers at your next meeting or event, please give one of us a call. We would love to tell you more.

It is also so helpful, in a campaign like this, to spread the word by sharing the link (http://c-fund.us/gbb) on social media sites, via email, and word of mouth.

Thanks so much for being part of the buzz!

30-06-2018

Mural Support Painting the Town

Dear Honey Bee Mural Supporters,

Over 1/3rd of the U.S. food supply couldn’t exist without pollinators. And honey bees are a critical component of our nation’s food supply, pollinating approximately 80% of all fruit, vegetable, and seed crops in the U.S.

If you are tracking the funding progress of the NH Honey Bee Initiative on The Local Crowd pages, you will see that it has surpassed the five-digit mark! Thanks to each of you, and many off-line supporters in the ever-expanding community hive, and with your continued networking help, our goal will be reached before The Good of the Hive’s August arrival in Peterborough.

To reach our $15,000 goal, there’s just $2590 to go! By the time you read this, the campaign will only last a few more days. We can’t do it without your help! Please share the importance of this endeavor on your social media pages and via email. And thank you for spreading the word about this amazing project with your friends and family.

Stay stuck to these pages for updates and announcements about this fun combination of public art and conservation.

With heartfelt thanks for all you do for so many!

Kin and Melissa

05-07-2018

How Sweet It Is

It is thrilling to be able to share with you that as of this morning we are very close to the honey bee mural goal. And we have just learned that this site will remain “live” for an additional week. Please share the buzz!

We look forward to seeing you at the Community Center next when artist Matt Willey will be painting the mural and you are invited to all events now in the planning stages surrounding this fabulous project and its important message. For those of you who haven’t seen Matt’s website, please visit www.thegoodofthehive.com to learn more about his own astounding global initiative and enjoy some of the wonderful murals he has already hand-painted.

Thank you again for joining with so many others in support of this fun and unique endeavor that is sure to keep Our Town on the map!

11-07-2018

Hello New Hampshire

Many of you know that The Good of the Hive is coming to paint a mural on the Peterborough Community Center… And before I say anything else, THANK YOU to those that have already supported this effort to combine forces with the NH Honeybee Initiative and raise some awareness about our critical friends, the bees. What many of you may not know is that New Hampshire plays a huge part in my life! My parents grew up on the coast and live in that area today. I grew up in Massachusetts, but pretty much everything I ever did that was any fun at all as a kid was in NH. We were a skiing family and spent many summers up in New London… and all of my cousins and grandparents were in NH. So I am extra thrilled to be painting in a place so close to my heart!

I will be arriving in Peterborough in late July to begin the mural after launching the Colony Expanse Installation currently on display across from the UN in New York. That unique piece consists of a golden swarm of 193 hand-painted bees and four bending hives in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in NYC. It will be on display through August 18, 2018. It is the latest installation of bees for The Good of the Hive. Each of the 193 bees represents a member state of the United Nations.

This installation, much like the first phase of a honey bee swarm, is about the potential for change, and the vulnerability (and human connection) required to achieve it. This is what The Good of the Hive is all about.

The goal for the artwork, when the Colony Expanse piece is dismantled in August, is to send each bee traveling to the country it represents for permanent display. My intention is that these bees become one small gesture of solidarity as an example of our ability to come together around issues that affect us all. As the stories of these bees are shared, awareness and connectivity through the bees will be fostered for the good of us all.

If you would like to know more about the piece, you can see more here.

Colony Expanse Installation

If you would like to learn a bit more about The Good of the Hive you can read the current newsletter. Or just stop by the mural site while I am painting and have a chat!

Looking forward to it all!

In solidaribee,

Matt

YOU Are The Bees Knees

Dear friends,
Our wonderful crowd-funder experience with The Local Crowd is complete. We had an amazing response to this initial endeavor and send heartfelt thanks to each of you for its success.

We are also grateful to the platform administrators for their patience, generosity, and willingness to share both time and expertise in managing this site. Because The Local Crowd is a pilot program, the entire amount of your donations has gone to The New Hampshire Honey Bee Initiative.

We enthusiastically recommend The Local Crowd as a vehicle to generate funds for your own projects and would be happy to share our experience with any of you.

The New Hampshire Honey Bee Initiative has some wonderful ideas and plans for future actions on behalf of all pollinators as well as some celebratory events in the works. Stay tuned!

We will continue to accept donations on behalf of the bees mailed to:
The New Hampshire Honey Bee Initiative
PO Box 3
Peterborough, NH 03458

24-07-2018

"One clover, and a bee. And revery."

Artist Matt Willey arrives thisThursday and, serendipitously, will be able to join us Thursday evening at 6:45 p.m. at Scott-Farrar at Peterborough, 11 Elm Street, Peterborough and YOU are invited!

Matt will tell the inspiring story of The Good of the Hive and talk about his fabulous global initiative to paint 50,000 bees on murals worldwide, including one in Our Town.

Please come if you can and/or stop by the Community Center (25 Elm Street) throughout August to say hello to Matt and see the mural in progress.

FaceBook users, for more information copy and paste https://www.facebook.com/events/831092140430012/?ti=icl into your browser.

This Thursday July 26th, 6:45 p.m. at Scott-Farrar at Peterborough, 11 Elm Street, Peterborough.

29-07-2018

Go Bees!

We are thrilled that The Good of the Hive has landed in Peterborough!

Sketch. Day One. Stay Tuned!

04-08-2018

Bees, bees, and more bees!

The New Hampshire Honey Bee Initiative recently shared The Good of the Hive’s Peterborough mural with some young painters from The River Center, a family and community resource center. That big kid in the front is muralist Matt Willey. Stop by the Community Center to say hello!

10-08-2018

First Ever World Bees Concert in Peterborough!

The Good of the Hive’s muralist Matt Willey is on his way (for the weekend) to D.C. to be one of the speakers at the Smithsonian Associates “Buzz on Bees” Program. The line-up includes Sam Droege, Amy Johnson and Toni Burnham. He’ll be talking about The Good of the Hive and his upcoming mural at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

The first ever World Bees Concert is happening in Peterborough, August 18th 7pm-10pm!!! Boston based band, Winona and the Riders are performing at #thegoodofthehive’s latest mural site!

Bees, beer, music, posters, free stuff just for attending!!! And admission is FREE!

16-08-2018

The Hive is Alive!

Greetings dear mural supporters ~ Saturday’s World Bee Concert is rapidly approaching and is getting wonderful coverage from our local paper. Kudos to digital/audience editor Meghan Pierce for great reporting in today’s LedgerTranscript, page one! The link is below.

https://www.ledgertranscript.com/Peterborough-bee-…

24-08-2018

Hive Jive

Last Saturday’s first World Bee Concert, held at the site of the Peterborough Honey Bee Mural, was a bee-utiful success.

Nearly two hundred people attended and enjoyed music performed by Boston band Winona and the Riders and Nashville’s own Americana band, Wildeyes, With the New Hampshire Honey Bee Mural as backdrop, free drinks, popcorn, and ice cream sandwiches were offered underneath a 20′ x 20′ tent generously provided by Peterborough’s Children and the Arts committee.

There were drawings for several Good of the Hive products including a swarm board skate deck and over seventy 24″ x 39″ standard World Bee posters of the original painting by the artist were given away. Band swag and Good of the Hive bee hats and tees were also available.

This week, The Good of the Hive’s founder and artist Matt Willey’s Colony Expanse piece has swarmed from Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in NYC to the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. We look forward to Matt’s return to NH tomorrow to continue hand-painting the stunning honey bee mural on the outside entrance wall of Peterborough’s Community Center. Stop by and say hello if you haven’t had a chance yet to do so.

This worker bee will be glad to see you!

27-08-2018

YOU Are Invited!

The Peterborough Recreation Department and the New Hampshire Honey Bee Initiative invite you to a Community Potluck on Tuesday evening, September 4th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the site of The Good of the Hive’s Honey Bee Mural, Peterborough Community Center, 25 Elm Street, Peterborough.

Enjoy a relaxing evening after the busy holiday weekend and share a bite to eat, conversation with friends, neighbors, and community members, and celebrate this fabulous piece of public art that carries such an important message. The Good of the Hive’s mural artist Matt Willey will be there to provide background on his global initiative and to chat informally with you.

This gathering will be a fun opportunity to connect with others who have not only supported the mural in so many generous ways, but also with those who may only be finding out about it now.

Bring your family and friends and something to share (easy finger food suggested).

No need to RSVP!

04-09-2018

TONIGHT_Community Potluck

A quick, friendly reminder that tonight the Peterborough Recreation Dept and the NH Honey Bee Initiative will host a community potluck from 6-8:00 pm at the mural site, 25 Elm Street, Peterborough. All are welcome!

Come and hear what Matt Willey has to say about The Good of the Hive’s Peterborough Honey Bee Mural and connect with others who have supported this fabulous piece in so many generous ways.

Bring your family, and friends for a relaxing evening. We hope to see you there!

07-09-2018

Thank You!

The Good of the Hive Honey Bee Mural (#15) is complete. The Community Potluck, held this past Tuesday, was a lovely event and it was a delight to see many of you there!

Muralist Matt Willey is on his way to Washington DC and the National Zoo to continue his fabulous mission on the entrance wall of the Great Ape House. The NH Bee Initiative will continue to work promoting awareness, education, and change in our own community. We hope you will join with us in taking what action you can to protect our environment for all creatures — great and small.

Thank you for participation in this community endeavor. It would never have happened without you!

16-09-2018

Community Abuzz

Good Sunday morning honey bee mural enthusiasts,

The Good of the Hive and its Peterborough Honey Bee Mural received some great coverage in this week’s Keene Sentinel in the magazine section. Its weekly publication, The Elf, featured a photo of the mural on the cover and a wonderful article on the inside pages.

Here’s the link:

https://www.sentinelsource.com/special_sections/elf/page/page_03169fa7-93f6-550d-9ffd-f2ad15f1f322.html

01-10-2018

Honey Bees on TV!

Just received the good news that New Hampshire Chronicle’s piece on the Good of the Hive mural in Peterborough is set to air Monday, October 8th at 7pm on WMUR-TV’s NH Chronicle program. Tune in if you can and please spread the word!

07-10-2018

Bee Mural Coverage on NH Chronicle this Monday evening!

Greetings Honey Bee Mural Enthusiasts,

NH Chronicle Host Erin Fehlau reminds us that WMUR-TV’spiece on the Good of the Hive mural in Peterborough is set to air this Monday, October 8th at 7pm on WMUR-TV’s NH Chronicle program. Please spread the word and tune in if you can!

09-10-2018

TV Bees Reschedule for this Friday

NH Chronicle has rescheduled The Good of the Hive story to air this Friday, October 12th at 7pm on WMUR’s NH Chronicle program.

This segment has been receiving lots of promotion over the weekend, and there will be more before the new air date!

Go Bees!

13-10-2018

Bee Mural Coverage on NH Chronicle_LINK

https://www.wmur.com/article/monday-october-8th-fo…

Good morning everyone ~ Here is the link to the wonderful piece on the Good of the Hive’s Peterborough Mural that was aired last night on NH’s WMUR Channel 9. Thank you producer Erin Fehlau and her associates at the station for bee-ing so creative with their footage and “wild lines.” Feel free to share this with your family, friends, and friends of the bees!

16-10-2018

Link to Bees on TV

https://www.wmur.com/article/friday-october-12th-f…

Good morning mural supporters~ Here is the active link to NH Chronicle’s 7-minutes piece on the Good of the Hive’s Peterborough mural.

Thank you again for your enthusiasm and support of this fabulous piece of public art!

Enjoy!

27-11-2018

Link to TGOTH's Peterborough Mural Page

The Good of the Hive has a newly redesigned website that includes a page for each mural.
Here is the link to TGOTH’s Peterborough mural for your reading and viewing pleasure.
Thank you again, one and all, for your enthusiastic support!
Happy Holidays! Melissa

https://www.thegoodofthehive.com/peterborough-nh-1

12-12-2018

Help The Good of the Hive arrive -- on The Ellen Show!

Holiday Greetings Everyone ~

The Good of the Hive needs your help in recommending Matt Willey as a guest on The Ellen Show.

Here’s how to do it:

1) Go to: http://send.ellentv.com/be-on-the-show/0c6f9983-3f81-43e9-8bfd-d4bc3906111a/
2) Fill out the form with the required information
3) Copy/paste our story:
We nominate the founder of The Good of the Hive, Matthew Willey!
The Good of the Hive initiative has completed twenty murals with 5,000 individual bees painted in four years. Their mission is to hand-paint 50,000 individual honey bees, the number in a healthy and thriving hive, in murals and installations around the world. To date, they have created buzzing hives of awareness and inspiration with their painted bees at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington DC, Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in NYC and Burt’s Bees Global Headquarters. They have collaborated with the World Council of Peoples for the United Nations and NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks Public Art Program. They have painted in a Broadway star’s dressing room, at a fire station in the American south, and at a farm in the Midwest United States. Their project locations are as diverse as the pollinators in need of protection.
Pollination is crucial to human survival and their mission is to reach every person, community and demographic in the world with this critical message. Their painted bees ignite enthusiastic awareness of what sustains us, starting with the protection of bees and revaluation of our relationship to the environment. Their vision is to create passionate commitment for global healing and repair. Joining on this journey means participating in a pivotal wave of change for the good.
The Good of the Hive is currently looking for a winter season mural project and we think Ellen will have some great ideas!
5) Copy/paste our social media links
*Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thegoodofthehive/
*Instagram – @thegoodofthehive
*Twitter – @goodofthehive
6) Optional: Re-share this info with friends so others can join!
7) Non-optional: Cross your fingers and celebrate your helpful self!
THANKS for this, the only Christmas present we’re asking for this year!

20-12-2018

Happy Holidays from the Hive

Dear Honey Bee Mural-istas~

Sending you all best wishes for a holiday season abuzz with family, friends, food, and lots of fun!

The Good of the Hive’s Peterborough Honey Bee Mural continues to create community conversations that reach throughout the world, including advocates and fans as far away as Patagonia!

Thanks again to each of you for your support of these hard-working pollinators,

Merry Christmas!

22-07-2019

The Good of the Hive's Peterborough Mural on Parade

Greetings to The Good of the Hive Mural Supporters!

A little bee told us that The Good of the Hive’s Peterborough Honey Bee Mural will be included in an article in the Sunday, July 28th issue of Parade Magazine.

Every light that shines on all our pollinators illuminates their plight, serves to educate people, and promotes not only awareness but also change.

Go Bees!

In gratitude,

The NH Bee Initiative

Kin Schilling and Melissa Stephenson

27-07-2019

Parade Magazine update

The Good of the Hive muralist Matt Willey wrote last night that “We didn’t make the cut for the print version. But I cannot believe one of my murals is on a list with Keith Haring, Sol Lewitt, and Joan Miro.” He also sent “wild levels of gratitude” for all of you who support his efforts and are continuing the good work.

The link is: www. Parade.com and the article is Murals across America: The Very Best Street Art in Every State. Still worth a look!

Go Bees!

29-07-2019

All State_One mural per!

One more time everyone…Although the Peterborough Mural didn’t make Sunday’s print cut in Parade Magazine, here’s the link to the online version with a mural representing each state. The link below starts you off at # 29, which is NH’s, but you can scroll along to see all the others. They are all so fabulous! I’m sure you will enjoy seeing them. Go Bees!

https://parade.com/899760/kristinluna/best-murals-…

29-07-2020

The Good of the Hive Has Spot on July 29 Today Show!

Good Wednesday afternoon to everyone ~

Kin and I have been thinking recently about sending all Peterborough Bee Mural contributors an update on artist Matt Willey and his fabulous honey bee murals. When a friend sent the link to this morning’s Today Show, featuring Matt and The Good of the Hive in a good news, news spot, it seemed the time is right! Here’s the link:

https://www.today.com/video/meet-the-artist-who-is…

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since Matt was in residence in Our Town. When I drive past the mural — less often in these days of Covid– I am happily reminded of all the community collaboration and fun that went into not only the creation of the mural, but also the First World Bee Concert held on the site, (to say nothing of the band on the roof of the spotlit building) and the incredible community potluck supper that nearly 100 people attended. Thank you again for your generosity and enthusiastic participation!

Enjoy this bit of good news during a challenging time, and stay safe.

07-12-2020

There's More to the Story than Just Bees!

A chance encounter with one tiny honey bee launched artist Matt Willey’s mission to paint 50,000 honey bees around the world.

And now there’s a documentary short in pre-production about his amazing journey. Tentatively titled The Good of the Hive, it’s a real-life story that shows just what it takes to work towards a goal and the unlimited power of human connection discovered along the way.

To view the trailer (running time: 1 minute and 44 seconds), and to see how you can join the adventure, check out http://www.thegoodofthehive.com Who knows, maybe someone on your Christmas list will want to see their name in the credits.

Sending warmest wishes for this holiday season,

Melissa Stephenson and Kin Schilling

The New Hampshire Bee Initiative