Bee for Justice
Building a business to benefit women who are survivors of prostitution and trafficking. Through products such as herbal teas & honey sticks for example, we will be servin' up justice one cup at a time.
Leader
Amanda Jemison
Location
8282 Macon Rd Cordova, TN 38018
About the project
"Bee for Justice" is a modest project within a big dream. Starting from a small apiary and herb garden, we are building a business around herbal teas and honey products to benefit survivors of prostitution and trafficking. The focus of this grant will be the apiary while plans for the herb garden are being developed. From the honey produced by our hives we will create, in addition to raw honey, simple products such as lip balm and honey sticks, which will be sold, along with teas made from outsourced herbs, in small local venues.
This year’s proceeds will fund Lives Worth Saving (LWS), a prostitution intervention program created by the District Attorney, the Memphis Police Department, and a group of front line responders to victims of trafficking. As our business grows, we will use our revenue to employ survivors with a livable wage within an emotionally supportive environment. Our project will contribute to the empowerment of these women to be productive, self-sustaining participants in the community.
Currently, we have a two-hive apiary and an herb garden consisting of 10 raised beds. In 2015 we will add three additional beehives and complete a master garden plan. The IOBY grant money will be used to purchase the equipment needed to harvest the honey.
This year, we will be relying on volunteer support from both of our churches and other community partners. Volunteers will maintain and care for the bees; produce and sell our product line; host and serve LWS participants; and plan and carry out additional fundraising ventures. We will also be working on a marketing plan and public awareness campaign.
The Steps
May
Install three additional hives in the apiary
Host ceremony presenting the new beehives to the community
Identify sources for herbs and other materials needed for manufacture of tea bags and honey products
Begin testing recipes for herb and honey products
Begin developing marketing and sales strategies
June
Harvest honey from our current hives
Continue recipe testing
Begin working with herbalist and garden designer on master garden plan
Continue work on marketing and sales strategies
July
Meet with herbalist and garden designer to finalize master plan
Recruit and train volunteers for garden installation and fall planting
Work with beekeeping mentors in preparation for second honey harvest
Begin planning "Scarborough Fair" fundraising event
Continue work on marketing and sales strategies
August-September
Second honey harvest
Begin manufacture of honey and herb products as recommended by recipe testing team
Prepare garden area for installation of garden plan
Begin promotion of Scarborough Fair fundraising event
Continue work on marketing and sales strategies
October
Continue promotion of Scarborough Fair fundraising event
Evaluate progress and identify next steps
Celebrate!
Why we‘re doing it
Friends of Thistle Farms is building a business to benefit survivors of prostitution and trafficking. Because the women we seek to serve have histories of childhood sexual abuse, rape, and violence of all kinds, and because many have done time in prison, we recognize that the obstacles to getting and keeping a job are monumental. Our project affirms economic wholeness as a necessary component of healing.