Where We Stand Today
Right now, Timber‑Hill River operates out of three back yards and a little space on a one acre homestead. It’s not a ranch, and it’s not a big spread.
It’s our beginning.
Every hive we rescue gets a place to settle, recover, and rebuild.
Every yard we use becomes part of the refuge network.
Every acre is used with intention.
We’re small on paper, but the work is big. And as the rescues grow, the land has to grow with them.
The Land We’re Looking For
We’re actively looking for ten or more acres, with a Banking lender already on hand. We’re not waiting for “someday.” We’re looking now.
The land we are looking for isn’t just open ground — it’s land shaped for bees, livestock, and long‑term habitat work. Bees need morning sun to warm the hives, and they need afternoon shade so they don’t overheat. They need to have a block/break from harsh winds.
They need year‑round water so colonies don’t burn themselves out flying miles just to stay hydrated.
They need quiet ground, steady ground, and a place where rescues can stabilize without disturbance.
That’s the kind of land we’re searching for.
Why This Land Matters
A refuge isn’t built around buildings — it’s built around the needs of the species it protects. Bees don’t survive on good intentions. They survive on habitat.
The right land lets us restore forage, stabilize rescued colonies, and support the native species that already live here.
It gives us a place to teach land‑sense, bee‑sense, and prairie restoration.
It gives the refuge a home that doesn’t shift every season.
This land is the foundation for everything Timber-Hill River is building toward.
Why Bees Need Livestock
A bee refuge isn’t just bees. It’s the system that supports them.
Cows keep the grass low and open up the prairie so wildflowers can take hold. Pigs turn the soil and break hardpan, making ground ready for forage growth. Chickens control pests around the hives and reduce stress on colonies.
Every animal plays a role in restoring land that bees depend on. This is how a refuge works when it’s built for the long haul.
Adopt‑a‑Hive
This is how Timber-Hill River expands without buying land we don’t need yet.
Back yards. Donated acreage. Partner properties. People who want a hive on their land but want Timber-Hill River to manage it.
Every adopted hive becomes part of the refuge network. Every yard becomes part of the habitat. Every partner becomes part of the mission.
Colleges
We’re building toward partnerships with KU and three other universities. Real land, real hives, real science.
Native bee identification.
Habitat mapping.
Prairie restoration.
Student involvement.
Research access.
A refuge becomes a classroom when the land is right.
The Vision
Timber‑Hill River grows one rescue at a time, one yard at a time, one acre at a time.
The land expands with the mission.
The mission expands with the land.
And this page — Where We Stand Today —
Will update as Timber-Hill River grows, because the truth of where we stand is the foundation of where we’re heading.