Help Legalize Beekeeping in New York CityJust Food's Pollinator Week June 22-28

Help Legalize Beekeeping in New York City
Just Food's Pollinator Week June 22-28

Have you ever been to a Beekeepers Ball? No? Well, here's your chance. Just Food is celebrating Pollinator Week 2009 next week in an attempt to bring attention to the fact that beekeeping is still illegal in New York City.

We hear a lot about beekeeping in the city, which is why we always have to remind ourselves that yes, it's technically illegal. It's allowed in plenty of major cities (Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco) but not ours.

Just Food has a petition for the City Council that you can sign, and there are all kinds of ways to participate next week—most of which involve eating and drinking good stuff and very little with hives and masks that look like fencing equipment.

• See the list of events: Pollinator Week
• More bee facts from Just Food.

And Apartment Therapy contributor Amy has been doing some beekeeping in Brooklyn. It's fascinating—go take a look.
• Getting the House Hive Ready for the Bees
• Bees Come Home To Brooklyn

(Image: Amy Azzarito)

Comments (7)

I may catch a lot of flack for this, but I kind of don't get the whole beekeeping craze. What's the point? Are people jarring and selling honey? If that's the case, then maybe I can see a reason for going to all the trouble of setting up a hive in your back yard. But if it's just for personal consumption it seems a bit of a hassle. Maybe it's because I don't really like honey all that much. Can anyone help me out here?

posted by Likey on June 17th 2009 at 3:55pm
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likey, it's also about supporting healthy bee populations, which are dwindling at an alarming rate all across the country.

however, bee keeping in dense urban areas does make me nervous. who knows how much knowledge people who are doing it have? perhaps a beekeeper's license could be required?

posted by bewarethebaobabs on June 17th 2009 at 11:04pm
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Yea I agree with 'bewarethebaobabs'. Large numbers of bees being kept by people in the city makes me nervous. Glad I'm moving away from the city!

Laura
http://www.grafxnerd.net

posted by grafxnerd on June 18th 2009 at 8:23am
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no! im really really really allergic to bees and want them no where near me if i have a choice.

i prefer to keep my epipen unused.

posted by akops41 on June 18th 2009 at 10:32am
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Likey, they also pollonate flowers which is very helpful and healthy for plants.

posted by ihateacrylic on June 18th 2009 at 2:55pm
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I actually think that this is a horrible idea. I read the NYT article yesterday and can't help but think that these urban bee-keepers are insanely selfish. Bad move.

posted by zaky on June 23rd 2009 at 3:01pm
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Having grown up on a real farm I don't really understand "urban farming" including chickens and bees and whatever else. I thought I moved to the city to get away from having the feed the chickens!

posted by mally313 on July 7th 2009 at 2:14pm
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