Beekeepers across the existence face many of the same universal upshot , include how to care for their bee in extreme weather , how much beloved to glean — if any — and how to deal with varroa mites . In most ways , beekeepers are united under similar needs and destination . While item-by-item beekeepers may bicker abouthowto tackle a sure issue , you may be certain they ’re all in the same beekeeping boat .
Until it comes towhereyou keep your bees , that is .
Given the additional hurdles to unmortgaged , metropolis dwellers are unequaled among apiarist . While similar to their country similitude , urban apiculturist must also take on the following issues .
City Regulations
Wannabe urban apiarist must first determine if beekeeping is legal within their municipality . If it is , there are other regulations you must survey , including how many hives are let and restrictions on beehive location . The impertinent course of action of action mechanism is to know those rules very well before bringing home any buzzing compadres .
Neighbors
Whether odd and well - meaning or nosy and nit - picky , relationships with neighbor are waters that every urban beekeeper must navigate . Just about any telephone exchange can be dulcorate with love , but it ’s best to have everything in order before you bring bees home . It ’s also helpful to be well - versed on the inch and outs of beekeeping and honeybee behaviour , so you ’re able-bodied to appease any reverence and hash out any vexation your neighbor may have .
Uncontrollable Bee Diets
Bees that forage in the city are subject to whatever is in or near those city limits . Remember that honeybees forage in a 3 mile radius around their beehive — and up to 6 miles in dire conditions — and urbanites with small plots of land are never really equip to institute enough forage for bee to consume exclusively . Just control out themystery of the red honeyfrom the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn .
Limited Space
This one give way without saying , correct ? You ’re a city dweller , so your bathroom likely double as computer memory for your kitchen gadget and your craft room . Well , you and your honeybees have something in coarse : Apis melliferadoesn’t need a lot of space . They even know vertically , just like you do , plus their housing is rather compact .
Vandalism
unluckily , urban apiary are more likely to be vandalise , damaged or stolen . This is n’t to say honeybees are explicitly safe in rural arena , but this should factor in in as you consider spacing and position for your nettle rash .
Despite the hurdles , keeping bee in the urban center has its perk . For one , eatage can be really unusual and varied , giving your bees quite a range of plant to confab and give you a most unusual love varietal wine . You ’re also likely to have really amazing beekeeping club , and as such , you ’ll be able to get to sleep with many apiculturist who start the gamut of experience and vox populi . ( The latter being something we beekeepers have no shortage of . ) It ’ll also be quite easy to source beekeeping equipment , nucs , and packages for sale in the outflow . If you may be creative and make it work for you , urban apiculture has no less tingle than the country variety — and maybe even more .
