All about Bees
What started on April 22 with the tree planting action on Kilimanjaro as the project launch was now continued in Kiel. This part of the project included a workshop week around bees. For this we invited our Tanzanian coordinator Jonathan and our beekeeper Rodney to Germany.
The first day was used to get to know the city of Kiel on the Baltic Sea. And what do you do at the sea? Of course sailing and eating fish sandwiches! A completely new experience for our friends.
On Monday then the first item on the agenda; visit to the apiary "Immenstolz". The weather that day was a bit rainy, so unfortunately we could not visit the bee colonies at work. But nonetheless, we were able to learn quite a bit from Philipp Sosnowski about his work with the bees. In the well-equipped and organized family business Rodney and Jonathan got a good insight into the working methods of a German beekeeping. The visit was rounded off by a honey and mead tasting.
In the evening we tried beer tasting in the old-established Irish Pub "Wubbke". A merry evening with some members of the club.
The second project day focused on Kiel's action plan for bee protection. The aim is to counteract the worrying decline in wild and honey bees. In cooperation with Kiel's Green Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, a number of bee sanctuaries were set up throughout the cityBlühwiesenwith native grass and herb species. During a site visit with Carina Ruschenki (Green Department), the importance and care of these natural areas was explained to us.
Wednesday was entirely devoted to the theme of "Natural Beekeeping" in the Nature Experience Center"Kollhorst". 
The evening ended with a barbecue in very nice weather.
Thursday was more about the whole technical side. Quite comfortably by bus and train we made our way to Wittmold to Bienenland Holger Assenheimer. At this well-stocked beekeeper's outfitter, we were able to calmly discover much of good quality, which is also needed in Tanzania. Mr. Assenheimer was available to answer all our questions with his typically Nordic, calm manner. Of course, we did some proper shopping at the end.
In the afternoon there was time for a visit to Kiel's North Cemetery. The cemetery director Frank Wunder told us some anecdotes and stories about Kiel's history during a walk through this very beautiful park. And of course we also visited the "Friendship Tree" of the town twinning Kiel-Moshi DC, which was planted in 2017.
On the last day of the project week, we showed our Tanzanian friends that in Germany beekeeping works well even in areas with public traffic and is viewed very positively by the population.
Since fear of bees is widespread in Tanzania, the installation of bee boxes in populated areas is not welcomed. We as an association try to alleviate this fear through environmental education.
A good example that beekeeping in public areas works well is the Old Kiel Urn Cemetery. Here we met with the beekeeper in charge, who told us all sorts of things about his work with the bees in the cemetery. What was important for us was that visitors to the cemetery very much welcome beekeeping on the grounds, as there is a widespread desire for naturalistic gardening. And, of course, visitors are also pleased with the good honey that can be purchased there in the office.
A meeting in the evening at the restaurant "Forstbaumschule" with club members brought this eventful and instructive week to a close.
The Kiel Week was enjoyed together over the weekend before the guests went to Hamburg on Monday for the return flight to Tanzania in the evening.