More People Are Turning To Urban Beekeeping
Beekeeping has been gaining popularity over the last several years, with a growing number of people looking to start their own beekeeping operation right in their own backyard. Urban beekeeping in the region of Western Australia alone is said to have tripled since last year.
You can find beehives in small backyards and even on top of hotels and apartment buildings, even on top of skyscrapers.
And because bees are seen as being so vital to agricultural production, there are a growing number of people want to do what they can in helping to prevent any drastic bee population decline, so they've taken to becoming a beekeeper.
There is a rise in beekeeping not only in Western Australia and the US, but in many other countries around the world. And because of the growing popularity for beekeeping, a variety of cities have taken to loosening their restrictions regarding this activity. In the US alone it is estimated that there is something around 120,000 or more backyard beekeepers.
Industry experts say that the interest for beekeeping has grown along with consumer preference for organic, local, natural foods etc. Not only that, but it's also become a lucrative business opportunity for some to turn to as well; a colony of healthy bees can produce roughly 100+ pounds of honey every year.
Due to the growing concerns in the past several years for the decline in bee populations globally it's no surprise if that has played a role in prompting many people to look toward taking-up beekeeping for themselves.
I wasn't aware until just recently that the government requires folks to register their bee hives and if they don't, they could face thousands of dollars in fines.
In Western Australia for example, the registration fee is $75 and the penalty for neglecting to obtain one is around $2,000. The same goes for other areas, where beekeepers are required to obtain a license from the state. It ranges in the US, with a license or permit fees for beekeeping costing anywhere between $50 to $100+.
And of course not everyone has the option to start looking after bees simply because they want to, they will need to make sure that their interests are in-line with their local zoning restrictions because those rules can also prevent them from being able to keep any bees. Aside from the fees, in many circumstances the support from neighbors is also going to be vitally important. Neighbors with concerns for beehives have been able to reject the initiatives from going forward in some cases.
It's can clearly be an uphill battle in numerous ways, but there are many people who are still willing to go through the process and endure the cost and risk etc, in order to try and get their own beehive operational.
There are bee operations of all different sizes. There are some beekeepers with hundreds of hives and others with only one or two in their backyard, you've got full-time beekeepers and just backyard, part-time hobbyists. For those who are interested in getting started with their own bee operation, experts in the field suggest that they take a course or try to educate and familiarize themselves first with the process before jumping right in. And technology today has made it very easy for folks to get involved with beekeeping, to find associations in their area, and to network with others who have knowledge on this subject, so that they can learn about taking better care of their own hive.
Pics:
Pixabay
Sources:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/urban-beekeeping-rising-trend-major-cities
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-38227113
http://americanbeejournal.com/beekeeping-rules-regulations/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-27/backyard-beekeeping-is-growing-in-popularity-perth/9090466
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$75 to register your bees?! Hahaha. What a time to be(e) alive, haha. The future generations will surely laugh at our willingness (and in some instances, advocation) for authoritative supervision. My only sadness is that I probably won't be alive to share along in their laughter.
I have a tiny bee house, won't be collecting any honey but I applaud anyone who starts this :)
Thank you bee keepers! I love to create candles and other natural items with pure beeswax. Nothing comes close to the smell of a beeswax candle. And, it ionizes the air!
My Nephew started two hives three years ago, He harvested some honey last year, it was really good.
right on!👍
It makes sense. Beekeeping, hobby farms, buying organic and local and all these farmer's markets are a backlash against the confinements of the system to keep us penned in our boxed city cubicals and a backlash against GMO, MSG, Monsanto and all the other filth they feed us. This is healthy direction to do bees and all other things as it keeps a balance to the system. We do not have this in our community but perhaps one day we will. Thanks my friend.
I live in a pretty rural location but I'm looking at taking up beekeeping. Unfortunately I am keen now but due to winter, I have to wait till April before I can get a hive set up (and I may have other interests by then!!)
Excellent read, I love bees and I honestly never heard of the registration of bees. Upvoted and resteemed.
thanks @m1r0 ! :)
I want to thank you for this remarkable post,Beekeeping is one of the most successful economic projects, and personally I encourage this type of project for its benefits such as honey production. Flower pollination, production of beeswax, etc. in addition that work by beekeepers is not easy. There are many functions besides taking honey from the hive. One of the things that surprises me most is the bee society system, a very complete system: how they work, how they build their home with a very creative design,something amazing.
I was not aware of the license part.