ALL HAIL THE CITY BEE
What is illegal in Manhattan, good for human health, and a possible solution to an agricultural crisis? Since the profound population decline of the honeybee in late 2006 and early 2007, the popularity of urban apiculture has surged among hobbyists and professionals alike. London, Paris, San Francisco, and Chicago support growing networks of rooftop hives, and while the urban beekeeper may generally go undetected, these apiaries exist in cities worldwide. So why haven’t you spotted one yet? Those overseeing such operations, however small in size, are wary of public concern. What the neighbors may not realize is that rooftop apiaries actually reduce swarming. Bees fly in straight paths, so keeping hives high above ground means they won’t often travel at street level.
But this is just one of the many benefits of raising city bees. An urban environment’s warmer climate lets bees produce honey at a tripled rate, and because the bees collect local pollen, consumers of their honey are exposed to all the plant life of the immediate area. Some say this can help allergy sufferers build up a resistance to the pollen, easing histamine reactions. You might be wondering if the bees suffer at all for their downtown surroundings. Well, pollen collection tends to take place within a three-mile radius of the hive, so abundant vegetation is not necessary. And while country bees encounter dangerous chemicals in pesticides and fertilizers, other pollutants seem not to harm them.
Along with exposure to chemicals and other Colony Collapse Disorder causes, another reason that the honeybees are disappearing might be that they’re overworked in pollinating huge commercial farms. The hobbyist, however, works with a smaller hive system in an intimate environment and practices beekeeping out of joy, so he won’t demand too much from his bees. A beginning apiarist can get started for less than $200, and maintenance is minimal. You’ll want to monitor the hive for health and harvest honey perhaps once a year. Besides bringing a bit of nature to the place, urban apiculture also brings local pride. The honey produced is distilled from its environs and sweetly expresses every note of home.
[...] ALL HAIL THE CITY BEE Bees fly in straight paths, so keeping hives high above ground means they won’t often travel at street level. But this is just one of the many benefits of raising city bees. An urban environment’s warmer climate lets bees produce honey … [...]