By Scott Boylston

This past August, we wrote a post about our collaboration with The Bee Cause, a non-profit organization committed to teaching young people the irreplaceable role of pollinating bees in sustaining the health of our ecosystems by installing 1,000 observational bee hives in public schools. The Bee Cause’s efforts are making a huge impact through the hives they’ve already installed, and one of the hives being built from Emergent Structures materials is nearing completion.

Carpenter Mark Lunsford of Charleston embraced the challenge of transforming old and splintered red cedar shiplap into one of Bee Causes’ magnificent observational hive. “I would like to thank you for the “challenge” and pleasure of allowing me to  turn what was most likely going to be more landfill material, into a beautiful home for some under appreciated honey bees,” Mark said. “Although laborious, the project was quite rewarding. I would also like to commend you and your organization on your efforts and vision.”

We’ll show you the final results of Mark’s exceptional craftwork soon, so be on the lookout! In the meantime, here’s a video of a Bee Cause installation at East Cooper Montessori Charter School in Charleston created by the students themselves.

The materials being used for this hive were originally reclaimed by Emergent Structures in February, 2011. The bee hive is one of many civic projects that have been ‘fed’ by this single material stream. Many thanks to Chuck and Debra Caldwell, owners of the Jones Street house we harvested the materials from: they are our most cherished Materialanthropists! Below, past volunteer and SCAD Design for Sustainability alumna Jen Jeng patiently denails some of the red cedar back in 2011.