Beekeeping
This page contains notes about my attempt at indoor beekeeping, which is one of my Hobbies.
Apartment preparation
Before installing the hive:
- Move furniture away from the hive.
- Identify anything in the apartment that I do not want covered with bees.
- Remove those items.
- Close the bedroom door.
- Search apartment rental contract for the word "apiary."
- Practice saying, "That's strange. I've never seen those bees before."
Hive inspections
The hive should be inspected regularly.
Things to check:
- Is the queen present?
- Are there eggs and larvae?
- Is the colony producing honey?
- Are there signs of disease or pests?
- Are the bees preparing to swarm?
- Has the landlord discovered the bees?
The last two conditions require immediate attention.
Feeding the bees
Bees normally forage outdoors for nectar and pollen - this presents certain logistical difficulties on the 25th floor of an apartment building.
Possible solutions I have considered:
- Opening a window.
- Installing a very small revolving door.
- Teaching the bees to use the elevator.
- Planting wildflowers on the roof.
Further research is needed.
Swarm management
A honey bee colony may swarm when a large group of bees leaves with the old queen to establish a new colony. In conventional beekeeping, this is considered an important management issue.
In apartment beekeeping, it is considered a reason to move.
Honey harvest
My goal is to eventually harvest my own honey.
Projected annual honey production:
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Honey produced | 40 pounds |
| Honey given to friends | 15 pounds |
| Honey I keep | 10 pounds |
| Honey used to apologize to neighbors | 15 pounds |
These estimates may need to be revised depending on the number of neighbors.
Lessons learned
- Bees require considerably more personal space than anticipated.
- "Open floor plan" has a different meaning when you own bees.
- A studio apartment is not improved by adding 50,000 roommates.
- The phrase "indoor hive inspection" should probably not exist.
- The security deposit should now be considered a sunk cost.
- My neighbors have become surprisingly interested in moving.
- The beekeeper controls the hive. The bees control everything else.
Long-term goals
- Successfully overwinter the hive.
- Find an apartment with a balcony.