your neighbors know that bees fly several miles from home (that’s equal to thousands of acres). So mostly they’ll be visiting a huge area that isn’t anywhere near your neighbor’s property.
Give gifts of honey to all your immediate neighbors (see Figure 3-1 for an example). This gesture goes a long way in the public relations department.
Courtesy of Howland Blackiston
FIGURE 3-1: This gift basket of honey bee products will be given to each of my immediate neighbors. That’s sure to help sweeten them up.
Location, Location, Location: Where to Keep Your Hives
You can keep bees just about anywhere: in the countryside, in the city, in a corner of the garden, by the back door, in a field, on the terrace, or even on an urban rooftop. You don’t need a great deal of space, nor do you need to have flowers on your property. Bees will happily travel a few miles to forage for what they need.
Knowing what makes a perfect bee yard
These girls are amazingly adaptable, but you’ll get optimum results and a more rewarding honey harvest if you follow some basic guidelines (see Figure 3-2). Basically, you’re looking for easy access (so you can tend to your hives), good drainage (so the bees don’t get wet), a nearby water source for the bees, dappled sunlight, and minimal wind. Keep in mind that fulfilling all these criteria may not be possible. Do the best you can by
Facing your hive to the southeast. That way your bees get an early morning wake-up call and start foraging early.
Positioning your hive so it is easily accessible come honey harvest time. You don’t want to be hauling hundreds of pounds of honey up a hill on a fiery hot day.
Providing a windbreak at the rear of the hive (see Figure 3-3). I’ve planted a few hemlocks behind my hives. Or you can erect a fence made from posts and burlap, blocking harsh winter winds that can stress the colony (assuming you live in a climate with cold winters).
Putting the hive in dappled sunlight. Ideally, avoid full sun because the warmth of the sun requires the colony to work hard to regulate the hive’s temperature on hot days. By contrast, you also want to avoid deep, dark shade because it can make the hive damp and the colony listless. On a city rooftop, fashion a burlap shade roof by stapling the material to four sturdy posts solidly planted in four 5-gallon buckets of cement. Or, fashion a small section of plywood, crank-strapped to and around the hive, to provide some shade for the girls.
Making sure the hive has good ventilation. Avoid placing it in a gully where the air is still and damp. Also, avoid putting it at the peak of a hill, should you live in a region where the bees will be subjected to winter’s cold fury.Courtesy of Howland BlackistonFIGURE 3-2: The picture-perfect bee yard. Not always possible, but an admirable objective.Courtesy of Howland BlackistonFIGURE 3-3: An ideal backyard location: hemlock windbreak; flat, easy access; dappled sunlight; southeastern exposure; and a nearby water source (not visible in this image).
Placing the hive absolutely level from side to side, and with the front of the hive just slightly lower than the rear (a difference of an inch or so is fine) so rainwater (and condensation from thousands of breathing bees) drains out of the hive (and not into it).
Mulching around the hive prevents grass and weeds from blocking its entrances.
Locating your hive on firm, dry land. Don’t let it sink into the quagmire. If you have doubts regarding the structure of your urban rooftop, check with the building maintenance crew. Don’t be famous for being the first urban beekeeper to fall through the roof and into someone’s apartment.
Urban considerations
(Many thanks to New York City–beekeeper Andrew Coté, author of Honey and Venom: Confessions of an Urban Beekeeper (Penguin Random House) for his contribution to this section and the “urban” call-outs throughout the book.)
Just about all the considerations listed in the preceding section apply to urban situations. Here are a few more details for all you city beekeepers out there.
Dealing with nervous neighbors
Bees living near people can cause anxiety, particularly in the close quarters of city living. In an urban environment, there can be more tension than in the suburbs or in the country. Education is, of course, one of the best remedies for making neighbors more comfortable. And so is a tasty bribe. Give a jar of honey to your neighbors to sweeten their view of bees and beekeeping. Promise them that there’s more where that came from!
With the gift jar, include a thoughtfully worded letter that explains what you are planning to do. Let them know it’s perfectly legal (assuming it is legal in your area). Explain the wonder of honey bees. Exude the virtues of pollination. Share the magic of how local honey fends off pollen allergies. Reassure them that bees rarely sting unless threatened. Give your neighbors time to get past the fear factor; let them digest what they’ve read and appreciate what they’ve tasted.
City bees have the same needs as country bees
Bees in urban settings need morning sun, dappled afternoon shade, a nearby water source (to keep the bees away from air-conditioner drips and leaky water towers that are surely nearby), and a buffer from the cold winter wind.
Deciding where to put your hives
Placement of urban hives is often tricky and a stumbling block for many metropolitan beekeepers. Don’t be one of those beekeepers who takes a course, builds a kit, gets a package of bees, and then realizes there’s no suitable place to put the bees! Do your homework upfront. Talk to neighbors with roof access, check in with community gardens or privately administered parks, ask a nearby house of worship or even a zoo for permission to establish your apiary. Knock on a lot of doors.
Strike a deal with a community garden
These are usually run by small neighborhood groups who are sympathetic to honey bees, welcome their pollination, and are likely eager to offer a home for your hives.
