beekeeping in urban areas

ingbush · April 30, 2007, 02:55:30 PM

i live in washington, DC, and am interested in starting beekeeping. would like to find out about resources/local groups that could give me info/tips. is beekeeping out of the question in urban areas?
thanks

Mklangelo · April 30, 2007, 03:50:37 PM

Quote from: ingbush on April 30, 2007, 02:55:30 PM
i live in washington, DC, and am interested in starting beekeeping. would like to find out about resources/local groups that could give me info/tips. is beekeeping out of the question in urban areas?
thanks

Ingbush,

Urban beekeeping is by no means out of the question. Ihad the same question last year when I began reseaching my first colonies. Just do a little homework on how your neighbors would think of the idea. I'm sure you can find a local beekeeper's groups in your area.

I did a quick google search and came up with this:

http://yellowpages.aol.com/beekeepers/dc/washington/

Good luck and I hope that gets you started!

Devbee · April 30, 2007, 10:53:03 PM

My wife and I also just became urban beekeepers. All our neighbors were fine with it, too!

We checked into the laws in our city for having bees and found that we could have up to two hives and two nucs at any given time, and that we had to have a 6 foot high fence or dense shrub all around our yard where the bees were, which is what we have already.

So it is doable and very cool--good luck! 8-)

Zoot · April 30, 2007, 11:13:33 PM

inbush,

Actually, keeping bees in Washington is illegal. Some do it but you might want to look around for a property out in Montgomery or P.G. counties to start off. You are fortunate in living within the realm of the Montgomery Co. Beekeepers Association which is arguably one of the finest in the country. You should look up the site and make contact with Dave Bernard (pres.) and take it from there. They offer a very popular "short course" that begins earlier in the spring..this year had a record turnout.

Sean Kelly · May 01, 2007, 04:27:22 AM

Go for a sunday drive out to the country side and talk with some local farmers within driving distance to your house. I've never been to DC, but I'm guessing that if it's like the west coast there'll be some kind of farm nearby on the outskirts of town. Every farmer I've talked to in my area have been begging me to put a hive up on their property. One guy even said he'll trade me beef when slaughter season comes. I wont do it this year, but am planning on buying a few more hives for next year... all depending on how I do with my first hive this year. :-)

Sean

bluegrass · May 01, 2007, 08:58:07 AM

Farms outside of DC :-D Even if they were a few miles away...it would be 4 hours getting to them.
You will have to check for local ordinances, but usually there are none. If you do have one it will restrict the # of hives you can have on one lot and usually how far they are from sidewalks and such. Some of my hives are intown and I have no problems.

Mklangelo · May 01, 2007, 10:35:05 AM

I really didn't think of the legalities and I appoligize for not doing so. I was approaching the question strictly from a feasibility angle.

Zoot · May 01, 2007, 01:07:05 PM

Actually, Montgomery county, the county that borders on most of DC, has the most progressive ag preserve program in the US. While crop farming has fallen off orchards and horse operations abound. Within a 25 minute drive (not in rush hour) you can be in wide open farm country. The opportunities for placing hives are countless. Don't let the media hype about DC traffic (inaccurate as usual) scare you off. Also, Pricce Georges county has abundant farmland - you just have to drive a bit further.

ingbush · May 01, 2007, 04:50:33 PM

thanks all for your input :-). i'm going to look into Montgomery County--we are 10 minutes from the Maryland line--and contact the Montogm. County Beekeepers Assn. Thanks so much!

Understudy · May 01, 2007, 06:53:32 PM

Quote from: Mklangelo on May 01, 2007, 10:35:05 AM
I really didn't think of the legalities and I appoligize for not doing so. I was approaching the question strictly from a feasibility angle.

That is alright some of us semi renegade beekeepers understand. I have my bees registered with the USDA. I live in a residential zoned area that means technically I can't have bees. I just make sure my neighbors get free honey.

Sincerely,
Brendhan