At ECI we have an apiary containing six locally sourced strains of honeybee colonies. The colonies are managed under the guidance of Master Beekeeper, Chris Kelly, owner of Promise land Apiaries based in Mattituck. These hives serve as a functional resource—supporting the pollination of the Good Ground Heritage Garden—and as a valuable outreach educational tool for our community.
 

Through our program, community members gain a firsthand understanding of how deeply interconnected our ecosystems truly are. Beekeeping fosters greater awareness of bloom cycles, weather patterns, environmental shifts, and the impacts of pesticide use, reinforcing the importance of protecting the natural systems we all depend on. 
 

ECI’s annual honey harvest is one of our most anticipated events of the season, offering a sweet and meaningful opportunity to celebrate the health and productivity of pollinators while engaging the community in hands-on learning and conservation.
 

The apiary is made possible through the generous support of hive sponsors. Their support ensures that we can continue to care for our bees, expand pollinator education, and sustain this vital initiative for years to come. If you are interested in becoming a hive sponsor, please visit  [https://donorbox.org/eci-sponsor-a-hive] or contact devan.kuettner@eciny.org