Ever Thought About Hosting Beehives?
Do you live in or around Montclair? Do you have space in your yard, on your roof, or elsewhere on your property that might work for bees? Perhaps we can work together to place beehives on your property this year.
I am always on the lookout for new apiary (beehive) locations, either for myself, or friends from the Essex County Beekeepers Society. Honeybees are a great source of pollination if you have vegetables, fruits, trees, or flowers, and they are both relaxing and fascinating to observe. They don’t take up much room; several hives can be placed in a 4×8 space. Here is an example of beehives placed in a local yard:
The ideal beehive location would have:
- local forage such as a vegetable garden, trees, or flowers
- electric service within 100 feet
- level ground
- morning sun exposure with afternoon shade
- a relatively “rustic” area that does not require a lot of landscaping (lawn mowing or weed whacking)
- close to a driveway or parking area to minimize the need to carry heavy equipment
- ability to visit the bees without advance notice – many times I visit my Montclair beehives on the same day, depending on the weather. Times on property range from 60-90 minutes in-season to as little as 5 minutes in the winter. I generally conduct weekly inspections from April through September then monthly in the winter
Are you up for the adventure? Contact me!