



Having bees next door will not increase the number of bees in their yard.Key points that you can mention include the following: Therefore, it’s a good idea to educate your neighbors about honey bee behavior and explain why they don’t have to worry. Too often when someone finds out that you keep bees, they’re thinking about the old Bugs Bunny cartoons where all the bees come out of the hive and form a giant mallet to clobber people into the ground. Educate your neighbors about bees and pollinationĮducating people about bees is important, as the non-beekeeping public often thinks that honey bees, yellowjackets, wasps, and hornets are all flying, sting-machines that love to make pincushions out of every human they see.
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Once they taste pure, local honey, they may likely become one of your biggest fans and be sweet on having bees-and free honey-close by. Last, remember that it’s always a good idea to utilize the beekeeper’s irresistible “superpower,” by giving jars of honey to each of your neighbors. If you don’t know the answer to any of their questions, you can always get back to them after you’ve found the answer by asking more experienced beekeepers in your area, or by searching trusted sources such as the Cornell Pollinator Network Resources page. Whenever you’re speaking with your neighbors, always ask about any concerns they might have and address each one to the best of your ability. Rather than letting them panic, it’s better if they call so that you can be a good bee neighbor and take care of the situation before it gets out of hand. Give them your phone number and encourage them to call anytime they have any questions, or if any issues arise, such as concerns about stings or if a swarm of bees bivouacs in their yard. The best thing to do is ask yourself, “What do my neighbors think of me?” If you’re honest with yourself and your answer is not positive, then write down a list of things that you can do to be a better neighbor, otherwise it may be a constant struggle for you and your bees.Įstablish an open line of communication with your neighbors. But, if you’re on bad terms with your neighbor(s), then getting bees is like pouring gasoline on an open fire. A general rule of thumb is that if you’re on good terms with your neighbors before you get bees, then they’ll be just as excited as you are about your new hobby. If you’re going to keep bees in your backyard, being a good neighbor is key. Photo by Frank Mortimer Build a good relationship with your neighbors Familiarizing yourself with the laws makes it easier for you to enjoy your hobby and its sweet rewards. The laws are put into place both to protect the beekeeper and also to protect the public. The laws may say whether or not you can keep bees, dictate how many hives you are allowed to have, and specify how far away the hives can be placed from property lines. First, before you even purchase bees or equipment, you should check to see if there are any community/city/country/state laws where you live that pertain to keeping bees. To successfully keep bees in suburbia does require more than just the physical space for the hives, as keeping bees in close proximity to people has its own set of guidelines that should be followed. Additionally, since a typical Langstroth hive only requires a few square feet, almost every backyard has more than enough space for a hive, so just about anyone with a yard could potentially keep bees. This means that new beekeepers are likely to live in a suburban neighborhood. According to the 2017 American Housing Survey, about 52 percent of people in the United States describe their neighborhood as suburban, while only 27 percent describe their neighborhood as urban, and 21 percent as rural. Backyard beekeeping is increasing in popularity, leading to more people having honey bees as their next-door neighbors.
