It may seem that New York is not the best place for bees to live. However, the amount of these little hard-working insects among skyscrapers, in gardens and parks of the city is incredible. The number of urban beekeepers is constantly increasing every year, while most of the bee gardens are located on the roofs of skyscrapers and office buildings. Beekeeping in the metropolis has become popular because bees are threatened by pesticides in rural areas. Due to this problem, bee populations in the world started to decline dramatically and New York became a safe oasis for bees. Experts explained how to become a beekeeper in New York and why this activity is so popular in the metropolis. Read more on new-york.name.
Everything you need to know about beekeeping in New York
Andrew Cote, the president of the New York City Beekeepers Association and founder of the popular in the metropolis Andrew’s Honey store, said that more than 2.4 million Italian bees were ready to find their homes on the roofs of New York buildings. Andrew used to be a beekeeper in the Dakotas and then moved to New York because he heard that this city really likes honey. He said that bees were sold by their weight like cheese and when he arrived in New York, local beekeepers were lining up to collect their $150 to $200 packages. Andrew Cote is convinced that bees feel better in the big city, although not everyone is ready to believe it.
According to Andrew, New York beekeepers often place bee gardens at the top of skyscrapers, and this has long been not surprising at all. During his activity, Andrew Cote has already managed to arrange dozens of bee gardens on the roofs of Manhattan and one of them is located at a height of 220 meters. The location of this apiary on the roof of the Residence Inn hotel is the highest in the world. There are several reasons why bee gardens are placed on skyscrapers. First, it is useful for the city because, in this way, the hardworking insects have the opportunity to pollinate as many trees and flowers as possible and this improves the ecological situation in the city. Secondly, the tourist aspect plays its role, as bee-gardens on the roofs look very attractive and even trendy. The ecological approach to life is gaining more and more popularity every year.
Abel Nottinghamshire, an active member of the New York City Beekeepers Association, shared that a big motivation for urban beekeepers is communication with nature in the concrete jungle. Also, decent income and the therapeutic side of beekeeping can be added to the list of the main reasons why New Yorkers keep bees. For many of them, communication with these insects is similar to meditation and has a calming effect.
Important tips on how to become a beekeeper in New York
Beekeeping in New York was officially allowed in 2010, but not everyone can start developing in this area here and now.
The first crucial step for anyone who wants to become a beekeeper in New York is to get an education. You must have a good understanding of bee biology and know the basic rules of this activity. All beginners in this area are recommended to take the basic course of the urban beekeeper NYCBA, meet people who already have the necessary experience and read relevant literature. If you plan to breed insects on the roof, you should think in advance about how you will deliver water there. Bees need it to control the temperature in their homes.
After you have studied all the necessary data and have not given up on your decision, you must fill out the paperwork with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Your name, address and location of the bee garden should be indicated there.
In case you doubt whether you can start a difficult but very important business on your own, you can contact representatives of the New York City Beekeepers Association and get valuable advice from experts.
