Almost a year ago, MicroNova moved into a second building at the Unterfeldring, and now already another new building has been erected: two bee colonies have been added to the #InnovationSpace. In 2018 a flower meadow was sown in front of building no. 6 instead of a lawn. The two colonies have been resettled from Langenpettenbach and will in future collect nectar within their usual flight radius of three to four kilometers. “Depending on vegetation growth, this can be between ten and 50 kilos per colony,” explains beekeeper Philipp Blumenschein. “The bees will do a test flight for one day to find their way around – and then they’re off to collecting.”
The first yields will still go into development of the colony, but the first “MicroNova Honey” will probably be ready in May. Staff don’t need to be worried about bee stings: “They are very peaceful colonies,” explains beekeeper Blumenschein. Only those who walk directly into the flight path are at risk, otherwise you could even put a bee in your trouser pocket without getting stung, assures the expert.
Autumn raffle
“It’s not just buzzing in the company, it’s humming too. The bees are another small investment in nature and the site that we really like to make. The plan was thought up a long time ago by our owner Josef W. Karl. We are delighted that flight operations in Vierkirchen could be opened more quickly than elsewhere after a short construction phase. We’re not worried about complaints about noise pollution,” explains Orazio Ragonesi, the company’s CEO, with a wink referring to the delayed new Berlin airport. “When the cherry blossoms come, that’s when MicroNova really will be buzzing,” adds Josef W. Karl. “Our own flowering meadow between the two buildings will certainly be well visited in summer.”
MicroNova also intends to organize a raffle towards the end of the first “bee season”: whoever most accurately guesses the quantity of honey obtained from the hives will be the winner; the next best estimates will follow. The exact prizes won’t be revealed yet, but there will of course be a jar with something sweet inside. The company will provide further information on its website and Facebook page in good time.
