Sustainability and social projects in Leutkirch
Tree sponsorship of the Naturkost Übelhör GmbH & Co. KG
We support a wonderful hardwood ensemble of around 30 deciduous trees, particularly beeches and some oaks, in the district of Wolfegg. The tree sponsorship serves to protect individual deciduous trees in coniferous forests. This is intended to maintain habitats of wild animal and plant species in their originality and diversity.
Space for nature in Kimratshofen
The German wholesale company ‘Naturkost Übelhör GmbH & Co. KG’ supports the project ‘space for nature’ in Kimratshofen, a district of the municipality Altusried, with an annual donation. There, an apiary for up to seven bee colonies was built in an open area as big as three football pitches. The nature park is completed by benches, information boards and a small hiking path for everyone. The local beekeeper association cares for the bees and the honey harvest on its own. In times when many insects die, the association wants to set an example with the construction of the apiary. After all, the honey bee belongs to the most important livestock in Germany after cattle and pigs due to its pollination services.
Bee project at Naturkost Übelhör GmbH & Co. KG
Sustainable and near-natural actions are our guiding principles.
Therefore, Naturkost Übelhör provides an open field in Friesenhofen-Bahnhof where we can establish bee colonies by means of our employee and beekeeper Meinrad Merk. The wooden hives were therefore hand-made by Mr. Merk. He will take care of the beekeeping and the honey harvest. Our project has already started with the establishment of the bee colonies.
From the beginning of the first sunrays, the bees get active and already find the first flowering plants such as snowdrops, primrose, hazelnut, crocus, snowflake etc. In the flying range of 3 – 4 km there are grassland, wetlands and orchards, deciduous and spruce forests. There, our bees find sufficient food in the form of protein (pollen) and fuel (nectar) to recover from the winter.
Possible residues in wax and honey are prevented by an own wax circuit. The offer of flowering plants determines the flavor, the beekeeper determines the quality of honey. The water content of less than 18 % is decisive for the correct harvest time. The most natural reproduction of a bee colony is the swarm. If the bee colony loses its queen or the strength of the old queen decreases, it will rear a new queen by special queen cells. In order to have enough feed supply for the coming winter, our bees get surplus honeycombs and organic sugar water. Only organic acids as formic acid and oxalic acid are used to fight the varroa mite. A limited brood removal supports the treatment. The bees know what they are doing. Our responsibility is to learn from them and to create the optimal life conditions inside the hive and outside to enable them natural health.