Wikipedia

Urban beekeeping

Urban beekeeping is the practice of keeping bee colonies (hives) in towns and cities. It is also referred to as hobby beekeeping or backyard beekeeping. Bees from city apiaries are said to be "healthier and more productive than their country cousins".[2] As pollinators, bees also provide environmental and economic benefits to cities. They are essential in the growth of crops and flowers.

Urban beekeeping with hay bales strapped to them on 3 sides to winterize and protect from the wind knocking it over[1]

This action helps to fertilize plants through the transfer of pollen. This not only supports urban agriculture and green spaces but also enhances the overall biodiversity of city environments. Urban beekeeping can lead to higher yields in community gardens and boost the health of local flora. Additionally, bees in urban settings often have access to a wide variety of plants and flowers, which helps produce unique, high-quality honey. While urban beekeeping requires careful management to address challenges like limited space and ensuring the bees do not become a nuisance, it has become an important part of urban sustainability efforts and a popular hobby that connects city dwellers with nature.[3]

History

edit

Most cities in North America at one time prohibited the keeping of bees, but in recent years beekeepers have had success in overturning these bans. Many urban areas now attempt to regulate the activity;[4] while registering beehives is often mandatory, a high proportion of urban beekeepers do not inform the city. The popularity of urban beekeeping was growing rapidly c. 2012[4] perhaps due to its inclusion in the local food movement.[5] Between 1999 and 2012, London saw a 220% increase in beekeepers.[6]

Challenges and concerns

edit

Swarming is a common occurrence in beekeeping. While harmless,[7] the sight of a swarming colony in urban areas can make people fearful. [8] Limited resources are another concern for urban beekeeping. As cities have limited greenspaces, the increasing popularity of the hobby may lead to lower honey yields as has been reported in London[9] and New York City.[10] According to a 2015 research study, urban environments have also been shown to favor viability and transmission of some disease agents that affect honey bees.[11]

Benefits

edit

Using managed honeybee colonies to fill the ecological niche of pollinators in urban environments is thought to be crucial to preventing the formation of feral colonies by more destructive species like the Africanized honeybee (AHB).[12]

Managed urban honeybee colonies can also provide pollination for urban green spaces, and allows apiarists to collect critical information about the ecological conditions of an urban environment based on the condition of the bee colony.[13]

Due to the urbanized setting, harvesting from hives is more convenient for beekeepers. The collected honey from the harvest can later be sold to the community, aiding the market.[14]

Urban beekeeping cities

edit

Some cities have active beekeeping communities, while others offer plentiful parks and gardens but have few apiaries.

North America

edit
 
Bees producing honey in a hive

Detroit

edit

Detroit is home to a flourishing population of native bees and variety of greenspaces. The city has several urban farms (not all of which maintain hives), including the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative. the Hantz Farm, D-Town Farm, and Earthworks Urban Farms. In 2017, the Detroit Hives nonprofit was founded with the mission to improve communities for people and pollinators, especially for underserved populations, by transforming vacant lots into urban bee farms. Detroit Hives is the first to create an educational apiary in the City of Detroit. In 2019, Detroit Hives founded National Urban Beekeeping Day, celebrated annually on July 19 as a day of education and awareness to support urban beekeepers and the ethical treatment of pollinators living within the urban landscape.[15]

Chicago

edit

In 2003, Richard M. Daley, then Mayor of Chicago, had two beehives placed atop City Hall. Michael S. Thompson was put in charge of their care. Subsequently, the bee population in the city has grown.[16]

In 2013, a ban on beekeeping was defeated in the suburb of Skokie. The town may regulate backyard beekeeping in the future.[17]

Milwaukee

edit
 
A Beepod Vented-Top-Bar Hive on the roof of a non-profit, CORE/El Centro, overlooks downtown Milwaukee and serves as an education location to teach new beekeepers.

In 2010, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed a beekeeping ordinance[18] allowing individuals to practice beekeeping in the urban center of the city. Urban beekeepers take part in Milwaukee's Community Pollinator Initiative.[19]

Montreal

edit

Montreal's beehives are regulated by the governmental agency MAPQ. This agency enforces a set of regulations surrounding the installation of a beehive in order to protect the health of colonies, but these rules are rarely restrictive enough to deter committed hobbyists.

The Westmount Library has a public honeybee hive on its roof featuring live inspections every two weeks during the summer months for kids, parents, and the elderly.

As part of their 135th anniversary, Birks Group installed three honeybee hives on the roof of their downtown headquarters.[20]

In the summer of 2014, the Accueil Bonneau homeless facility launched a pilot project introducing their itinerant community to the art of beekeeping as a means of re-engaging them in a fulfilling and meaningful hobby.[21]

Most of the public beekeeping initiatives stem from companies offering beekeeping services that make it more accessible to urban dwellers, such as Alveole, Apiguru, or Miel Montreal. The movement towards generating local produce is part of the reason beekeeping is becoming increasingly popular in this metropolitan city.[22]

New York

edit

Until 2010, beekeeping was illegal in New York City, but this had little effect on the many New Yorkers who built and maintained hives. Prior to being recognized by the city, urban beekeeping had become an established hobby, and a support network of organizations, blogs, and supply stores were already in place.[23] When the ban was lifted, only the non-aggressive Apis Mellifera species was allowed to be kept.[24] While registering beehives is required,[24] as of 2012 only half of the 400 bee colonies thought to be situated on New York rooftops had been reported to the city.[10]

 
Western honey bee

In New York, there are beehives at InterContinental The Barclay Hotel,[25] the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel,[25] the York Prep School,[10] the Brooklyn Navy Yard,[26] the Bank of America Tower (New York City)[27] and the Empire State Building.[28]

Toronto

edit

Hives have been kept discreetly in Toronto for many years. Several beekeepers kept around fifty hives each along the Don River in the beginning of the 20th century. There was also a beekeeping co-op near the Don Valley Brick Works into the late 1950s.[citation needed] Mayor William Dennison kept nineteen colonies in his Jarvis Street backyard during the 1970s.[29] During this time, beekeeping equipment could be bought in the downtown Little Italy and Little Portugal neighbourhoods

As of 2015, Toronto does not have any bylaws governing beekeeping, so the Ontario Bees Act applies. The Act does not address urban beekeeping but contains a 30 m (98 ft) set back requirement for property lines, and a 10 m (33 ft) set back requirement for highways.[30] However, the rule has gone largely unenforced as few urban lots are spacious enough to meet requirements concerning proximity to property lines, dwellings, and highways. In 2011, there were 107 registered hives in Toronto.[31]

Some of the many Toronto landmarks that host honey bee hives include: the Fort York historic site,[32] the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts rooftop,[31] the University of Toronto,[31] the Amsterdam Brewing Company rooftop,[29] and the Fairmont Royal York hotel.[33]

Vancouver

edit

Often regarded as a green and sustainable city, the City of Vancouver has recognized hobby beekeeping in residential areas by issuing guidelines and requiring hives to be registered.[34] Bees are kept at Vancouver Convention Centre[35] and Vancouver City Hall.[36]

Los Angeles

edit

Los Angeles has a long history of beekeeping. The first two honey bee colonies arrived in California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, in 1853. Imported by Christopher H. Shelton, they were the only survivors of the long trip from New York to San Francisco. Bees were purchased on the docks of San Francisco for $150 then brought south to Los Angeles. The bees arrived in Los Angeles on September 4, 1854. In April 1855, the colonies cast out two swarms which were sold for another $150. At this time, the honey generated by the bees was sold for $1.50 per pound. Italian bees ("Apis mellifera ligustica"), considered superior to the German variety ("Apis mellifera mellifera"), were introduced in January 1855.[37]

By the 1860s, beekeeping was common in Los Angeles with some individuals owning 25 hives. Wild honey was collected in significant quantities throughout the foothills. The honey was sent to San Francisco for sale. A large colony was found in the San Fernando Valley, some estimate it contained 8 to 10 tons of honey:[37]

The hive is located in a rift which penetrates the rock to a depth of approximately 160 feet. The orifice is 30 feet long and 17 feet wide with four passages. This rift was discovered to be the nesting place of a swarm of bees that was seen to come out in a nearly solid column, one foot in diameter. Certain parties have endeavored to descend to the immense store of honey collected by the bees, but were invariably driven back, and one man lost his life in the effort.

In 1873, the Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association was founded. In 1879, Los Angeles lawmakers banned beekeeping within city limits based on the false belief that honey bees damaged the citrus crop (one of the largest industries in the Los Angeles area). By 1917, there were calls to repeal the "ancient ordinance"; many were illegally keeping hives anyway, but lawmakers did not act. It was not until 2015 that the 136 year old ordinance was repealed by the city council.[38]

Kansas City (Kansas)

edit

Kansas City and its surrounding suburban areas are home to a number of urban apiaries and backyard beekeepers. While many cities and towns have specific ordinances regarding the practice of keeping bees, the Wyandotte County (Kansas City, Kansas) municipal code makes no mention of honey bees, beekeeping, bee hives, or any related terminology.[39]

Hobbyists often learn best from one another's experiences in the field, and Kansas City has a robust community of urban beekeepers who communicate, educate, and gather with one another throughout the year. The Northeastern Kansas Beekeeping Association is one such organization whose territory includes Kansas City, Kansas.[40] Johnson County, which is considered a part of the Kansas City metro area, is home to a growing number of suburban cities allowing their residents to keep bees within city limits.[41]

Europe

edit

London

edit

Beekeeping in London has become increasingly popular. The number of beekeepers rose 220% between 1999 and 2012[6] with other figures showing a 200% increase between 2008 and 2013.[42] As of 2012, an estimated 3,200 apiaries exist in London.[9] The density of hives in London is much greater than in other areas of the UK, and this has led to concerns that city green spaces may not provide sufficient forage to sustain growing bee populations.[42]

The UK government has aided the rise of beekeeping in cities by releasing a plastic beehive purpose-built for urban beekeeping. Called Beehaus, it is supported by quango Natural England.[43] Organizations supporting urban beekeeping in London include The London Beekeeper's Association,[44] which holds monthly meetings, provides mentoring to new beekeepers, and lends out beekeeping supplies.[45]

Bees are kept at significant locations such as the department store Fortnum & Mason,[9] Lambeth Palace,[5] Buckingham Palace,[46] the London Stock Exchange,[9] the Natural History Museum,[5] the Tate Modern,[47] and at the Royal Lancaster Hotel.[9] Hives once stood atop the Bank of England.[5]

Istanbul

edit

Urban beekeeping is a growing hobby and industry in Istanbul. Beehives can be found from city parks to high rise building terraces.[48] Beekeeping in the city, especially in its outer districts, is supported by the municipal government, İBB.[49] Hotels like The Ritz-Carlton in Istanbul also reportedly have urban beehives for their restaurant's honey needs.[50] Urban beekeeping has been described as difficult hobby in İstanbul, which has fewer green spaces compared to other cities in Turkey.[51] Unregistered beehives can be spotted in some parks in downtown districts of İstanbul.[52]

Hasan Efe from the Apiculture Research Institute stated that beekeeping in İstanbul's city center could harm the insects’ physiology, adding that gas from vehicles and environmental conditions can contaminate urban honey with heavy metals.[52] These claims were challenged by some research centers that did not find significantly elevated levels of heavy metals in urban honey samples.[53]

Local and international conferences and seminars about urban beekeeping are being held in the city.[54] İstanbul has also hosted the 45th edition of Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations, in 2017[55] and again in 2022.

Africa

edit

Johannesburg

edit

Johannesburg has over six million trees.[56] This environment is ideal for urban beekeepers, who often have higher honey yields per hive than other Highveld beekeepers. In South Africa, anyone who handles bees must be registered as a beekeeper with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.[57]

Asia

edit

Seoul

edit

Beekeeping in Seoul began to gain widespread recognition in 2012 with the installation of five beehives on the rooftop of Seoul City Hall.[58] Despite initial challenges such as public fear of swarming bees and concerns over urban honey safety, the practice has expanded steadily due to a shared belief in its benefits for urban ecosystem conservation. Beehives are maintained at many sites such as Seoul National University,[59] Porsche Korea,[60] Hilton Seoul Pangyo,[61] the National Assembly Library.[62]

Urban Bees Seoul, as a pioneer in the urban beekeeping movement, provides educations for beginners and participates social activities related to bees.[63] [64]

In a move to protect bees and promote a healthier urban environment, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has banned the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in parks and on roadside trees, replacing them with eco-friendly pest control methods.[65]

Other cities

edit

Urban beekeeping exists in many major cities and has been reported in: Berlin,[66] Hamburg,[67] Hong Kong,[68] Bengaluru (Bangalore), Melbourne,[69] Sydney,[70] and Tokyo.[71]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Winter is Coming: How to Winterize your Hives".
  2. ^ "Bees reared in cities 'healthier'". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 17 January 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  3. ^ Hickman Jr, Cleveland P.; Keen, Susan L.; Larson, Allan; Eisenhour, David J. (2018). Animal Diversity (8th ed.). McGraw Hill Education. p. 258. ISBN 9781264157396.
  4. ^ a b Salkin, PE (2012). "Honey, it's all the Buzz: Regulating Neighborhood Beehives". Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review. 55 (39).
  5. ^ a b c d Barnett, Laura (4 May 2006). "Why London's beekeepers are a growing band". The Independent. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  6. ^ a b This statement is supported by multiple sources:
  7. ^ Lewis, Donald. "Honey Bee Swarms are Common, but Not Dangerous". Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
  8. ^ BRIQUELET, KATE (June 3, 2012). "New York's beekeeping craze bringing dangerous swarms". New York Post. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e Davenport, Justin (15 June 2012). "Celebrity beekeepers told to buzz off: Too many hives mean not enough food and falling honey yields". London Evening Standard. ES London Ltd. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  10. ^ a b c Nessen, Stephen (June 25, 2012). "Two Years After Legalized Beekeeping, City May be Running Short on Forage". New York Public Radio. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  11. ^ Youngsteadt, Elsa; Holden Appler, R.; M. López-Uribe, Margarita; R. Tarpy, David; D. Frank, Steven (4 November 2015). "Urbanization Increases Pathogen Pressure on Feral and Managed Honey Bees". PLOS ONE. 10 (11): e0142031. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1042031Y. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142031. PMC 4633120. PMID 26536606.
  12. ^ Florida African Bee Action Plan Archived 2007-07-01 at the Wayback Machine, by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. pp. 10.
  13. ^ Rutter, Bruce (2022-02-16). "Urban Beekeeping Problems and Benefits". bestbees.com. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  14. ^ Anderson, Charlotte (2024-08-07). "What is Urban Beekeeping? Challenges, and Best Practices". Carolina Honeybees. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  15. ^ Luongo, Michael T. (8 April 2018). "Detroit's Newest Industrial Workers: Bees". Sierra.
  16. ^ Potempa, Philip (9 March 2011). "The buzz on urban beekeeping: Chicago high-rises are home to hives flowing with honey". Shore magazine. NWI Times. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  17. ^ Bellware, Kim (19 August 2013). "Skokie Beekeeping Ban Defeated, Though Village May Look To Regulating Backyard Hives In Future". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  18. ^ Tajanko, Darius. "City of Milwaukee - File #: 091282". milwaukee.legistar.com. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  19. ^ "Milwaukee's Community Pollinator Initiative - Beepods". Beepods. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  20. ^ "Birks Marketing Exec Eva Hartling Offers Buzz on Bee Inspired Campaign". notable.ca. Notable. June 5, 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  21. ^ "Actualité & culture Des abeilles à l'Accueil Bonneau - L'Itinéraire". L'Itinéraire. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  22. ^ Corroon, Nick (19 May 2014). "As Local As it Gets: Alvéole Brings Beekeeping Back Home". The Main. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  23. ^ NAVARRO, MIREYA (March 14, 2010). "Bees in the City? New York May Let the Hives Come Out of Hiding". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  24. ^ a b Navarro, Mireya (March 16, 2010). "Bring on the Bees". Cityroom Blog. The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  25. ^ a b BRIQUELET, KATE (June 3, 2012). "New York's beekeeping craze bringing dangerous swarms". New York Post. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  26. ^ SATOW, JULIE (September 5, 2013). "As Busy as His Bees". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  27. ^ SATOW, JULIE (August 6, 2013). "Worker Bees on a Rooftop, Ignoring Urban Pleasures". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  28. ^ dverriello@esrtreit.com (2022-11-01). "ESRT Bees & Beehives Announced at Empire State Building | ESRT". Empire State Realty Trust. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  29. ^ a b Fane, Kate (9 April 2015). "Toronto Swarms to Urban Beekeeping". Torontoist. Ink Truck Media. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  30. ^ "Bees Act". e-laws. Government of Ontario. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  31. ^ a b c Freeman, Fran (July–August 2014). "Urban Beekeeping: Good for Cities And Bees". Ontario Bee Journal. 33 (4): 14–15.
  32. ^ McKechnie, Brian (June 17, 2015). "Honey, hives and highrises: Why urban beekeeping is trending in Canada". Global News. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  33. ^ Gordon, Daphne (June 5, 2008). "Royal York rooftop garden a hive for bees". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  34. ^ "Hobby Beekeeping" (PDF). Planning Department. City of Vancouver. 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  35. ^ Scott, Derek (April 22, 2010). "The roof is buzzing - literally - at Vancouver's convention centre". theglobeandmail.com. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  36. ^ "Draft Greenest City 2020 Action Plan" (PDF). Deputy City Manager and Director, Sustainability Group. City of Vancouver. January 20, 2011. p. 11. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  37. ^ a b "History of Beekeeping in Los Angeles County". www.losangelescountybeekeepers.com/.
  38. ^ "Backyard Beekeeping Approved In Los Angeles". www.npr.org/.
  39. ^ "Municode Library". library.municode.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  40. ^ "HOME". Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers Association. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  41. ^ "Beekeeping in the Suburbs". www.johnson.k-state.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  42. ^ a b "Rise in urban beekeeping may be bad for bees, scientists warn". cbc.ca. CBC. August 14, 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  43. ^ "Bringing the buzz back to gardens and rooftops". Natural England. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2014. A new, contemporary beehive for the urban beekeeper, launched... by Omlet with support from Natural England, will make it easy for anyone... to help bees find a home in urban gardens.
  44. ^ "What we do". lbka.org.uk. The London Beekeepers' Association. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  45. ^ "Members". The London Beekeepers' Association. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  46. ^ "Secret London: The Bees of Buckingham Palace". 14 November 2014.
  47. ^ Briggs, Hannah (27 September 2012). "Honey suffers after bad year for bees". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  48. ^ Şafak, Yeni (2013-09-22). "Apartmanda 50 bin arıyla başbaşa". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  49. ^ "HABERLER - VETERİNER HİZMETLERİ MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ". gida.ibb.istanbul. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  50. ^ "Bees on a terrace". Hürriyet Daily News. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  51. ^ "Şehrin göbeğinde bal üretiyor". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 6 May 2017. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  52. ^ a b "Mysterious beehives in park overlooking Bosphorus in Istanbul raise questions - Turkey News". Hürriyet Daily News. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  53. ^ "İstanbul'un gizli arıcısı ve bir sanatsal eylem olarak arıcılık | Buğday Blog" (in Turkish). 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  54. ^ "Kent kovanları". Uplifers (in Turkish). 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  55. ^ "Report on Turkish beekeeping in the run up to Apimondia 2017 in Istanbul". Apis Information Resource Center. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  56. ^ "We're living in an urban forest". City Of Johannesburg.
  57. ^ "GN R858 15 November 2013 Control Measures Honeybees" (PDF). Bee Removers Association of South Africa.
  58. ^ "60배 성장한 서울도시양봉 성장스토리, 143개국에 알린다". Seoul Metropolitan Government. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  59. ^ "15만원 벌통 하나에 50만원 수익…도심 속 양봉 '꿀맛이네~'". The Hankyoreh. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  60. ^ "Porsche Korea launches crowdfunding campaign for bee conservation". The Korea Herald. 10 Feb 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  61. ^ "DoubleTree by Hilton turns hotel rooftop into urban bee farm in Pangyo". The Korea Times. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  62. ^ "국회 꿀벌 100만마리가 만든 꿀, 지진 피해 튀르키예 보낸다". the Chosun Daily. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  63. ^ "Rooftop beekeepers reconnect city with nature". The Korea Herald. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  64. ^ "To bee or not to bee: Urban bees all the buzz". The Korea Times. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  65. ^ "Seoul bans bee-toxic pesticides in parks, roadside trees". The Korea Herald. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  66. ^ "Bee business picking up in Berlin". Deutsche Welle. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  67. ^ "Imker: Goldene Zeiten". ZEIT ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  68. ^ Mabel Sieh and Pearl Chan (28 July 2010). "Rooftop colony". scmp.com. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  69. ^ Johnson, Bree (12 July 2011). "Making Honey for Restaurants on Rooftops". Broadsheet. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  70. ^ Ting, Inga (June 11, 2013). "The new buzz on the street". goodfood.com.au. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  71. ^ Kobayashi, Eugene (12 November 2013). "Tokyo Honey: A Role for Urban Bees". Our World. United Nations University. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urban_beekeeping&oldid=1254295267"