Micro Farming: 2 - Urban Bee Keeping

The following is an article about why you should create a bee friendly garden and consider keeping honeybees

Author: Matthew Wittering | Published: 27th January 2010

On Wednesday 20th January 2010 Richard Black published an article on the BBC News site which cited research completed by Cedric Alaux and colleagues from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in Avignon that the decline of honeybees was a direct result of reduced biodiversity in ecosystems. The research reported to the BBC:

We found that bees fed with a mix of five different pollens had higher levels of glucose oxidase compared to bees fed with pollen from one single type of flower, even if that single flower had a higher protein content.

The article by Richard Black was an interesting subject because of the large role honeybees have in our world. It did much to expand my current understanding on causes of declining honeybee populations.

Photo 1: Honey bee feeding, credit gpl2.

Much of my knowledge comes from A World Without Bees a book I am currently reading by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum. The book starts by introducing an observed phenomenon referred to as colony collapse disorder (CCD). Benjamin and McCallum alert readers to the discourse between multiple groups on the cause of CCD. Whether it is the result of a virus, fungus, pathogen, modern farming practices or even an elaborate al-Qaida plot to wreak havoc over the US agricultural industry there was no consensus between respective groups.

The guiding thesis of Benjamin and McCallum is if action is not taken to stabilise and grow the bee population it would have a disastrous result on human and other animal life dependant upon flowering crops for sustenance. Benjamin and McCallum report:

A third of all that we eat, and much of what we wear, relies on pollination by honeybees. So if - or when - the world loses its black-and-yellow workers, the consequence will be dire.

I find the quote a sobering reality which is unknown or ignored by many in developed nations. This reason is not of their making rather it is endemic of our detachment from the land. As I continue to learn and pontificate about the bees disappearing, I wonder, what could I and others do to aid the situation? The idea I have formed to help the bees is to spread seeds in gardens for brightly coloured flowers common in flowering meadows. This would not only add interest into your garden by deviating from the dreary modern garden designed to be low maintenance, it would instead provide a food source for bees.

A rather more expensive path to follow is to invest in a Beehaus by Omlet. Omlet are the company behind the Eglu chicken coupe. The Beehaus is for bees what the Eglu is to chickens. It is the means by wish urban folk like myself can keep bees or chickens on what land we have. As you can see below, the Beehaus is a brightly coloured modern take on the bee hive for the modern apiarist.

Photo 2: A modern apiary, credit Los Angeles Times.

The Beehaus does has an extremely large barrier to entry for many with the £465 price tag. By purchasing your own hive you would be able to produce your own honey and be in the knowledge your are helping the dwindling honeybee population. If you are that passionate about the concept of bee keeping this product will be for your. But I think for most people it is not an option. For many the jumping off point to aid the honeybee population while be to start creating bee friendly habitat in your gardens to help bee colonies in your area. I am looking to promote a bee friendly agenda in my garden and whatever your decision I wish you luck.

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A brief introduction

Matthew Wittering I am a graduate of Lougborough University where I read Computing and Management BSc (Hons) earning a 2:1 classification.

Currently I am working in the Product Team as a Junior Product Manager at Ask Jeeves UK. Continue