Aspiring beekeepers must make a crucial decision at the start of their journey. They can either house their bees on their own property or find a host property to store them. Unveil the pros and cons by considering every aspect of apiary care. Weighing priorities against the inconveniences and costs clarifies if at-home apiaries are the best choice compared to offsite solutions.
Financial and Labor Cost
The financial and time investments for at-home versus outside apiaries vary widely. Financial and product fees stack for offsite locations, and they may comprise rent or leasing expenses, a percentage contribution of honey produced to the property owner, insurance or rental fees for equipment. Every location is different, so it is essential to compare local options. The costs associated with these apiaries are long-term.
If the apiary is in a backyard, beekeepers may anticipate more intense upfront costs for setup and cheaper long-term costs for maintenance. Setting up a hive could range between $500 and $600 for the essentials and more if purchasing multiple or seeking education. Since the hives are on personal property, paying for space is only as expensive as the infrastructure to fit individual tastes and goals.
The cost of labor should be another primary consideration. Driving to and from an offsite apiary may not be desirable, especially when tabulating fuel prices and vehicle wear and tear. Separating homes from bees might reduce hours spent tending to them because of less frequent appearances unless trips are on a strict schedule.
This might make visits more productive regarding output and tasks completed, whereas having them nearby may increase unintended and superfluous check-ins. Knowing individual work ethic, mindset and values related to the hives answers which situation is healthier from a working perspective.
Convenience and Accessibility
Convenience is the primary reason to choose at-home bees. Beekeepers can freely and regularly check on the hives and have complete agency over their safety and well-being. It is simpler to check on colonies when everything is a minute’s walk away.
However, getting into a car, hopping on a bike or scheduling public transit produces barriers that potentially prevent regular and necessary visits to the apiary. Consider setting up bees at home if the willpower to overcome travel inconveniences is not strong enough. Others may have a different perspective and find traveling to an offsite more agreeable than hosting on their land. There may be incentives for being in a cooperative that make other beekeeping tasks convenient enough to warrant the drive.
Accessibility is more than having the apiary nearby. Every beekeeper has personal requirements to treat bees effectively, and some design choices may be non-negotiable. Recent research showed 42% of beekeeper respondents self-reported some disability.
People in wheelchairs or individuals with chronic pain may need easy-to-open doors or ramps to access their hives. Custom-made garments and tools might not be available in public establishments, forcing beekeepers to haul equipment back and forth. People who are neurodivergent may also consider at-home apiaries if cleanliness or anxiety is top of mind, for example. This is easier to customize at home, though options may be present at local coops.
Travel Requirements
This aspect was hinted at when considering finances and time, but there are more travel-related factors to weigh. Drivers should consider their vehicle and equipment insurance if using it for business purposes and what insurers will cover for various incidents. Additional peripherals may be necessary for transporting honey and other tools to and from the offsite that could otherwise stay in a shed or other storage solution.
Extra precautions are necessary to prevent spills or damage to fragile cargo. For example, spilled honey that ruins the car’s interior may not receive compensation from insurers, so spending more on protective blankets or carrying cases may be advised.
Some offsite apiaries are off main roads and rural beekeepers could require heavy-duty vehicles to reach their bees. Others may be on steep hills, causing concerns in inclement weather that could leave the bees neglected to prioritize the beekeeper’s safety. Some may already have trucks and hauling equipment, but not everyone has the same resources.
Travel is also tied to accessibility, primarily if driving or carrying heavy objects is not an option. If these quandaries are a worry, at-home apiaries are the way to go.
Weather and Climate
What is the wind, weather, humidity and climate like in the area of the potential offsite apiary? How is it on one’s personal property? This may vary depending on how far the home is from the other business, but comparison is crucial for ensuring a safe, comfortable home for the bees.
Living in a relatively flat neighborhood with no wind barriers differs from living in a valley or surrounded by trees. To what degree will the bees receive exposure from the elements based on topography?
Being located near rivers or forests is another essential geographical consideration because outside locations may be prone to dangers the home is not, such as flooding or wildfire. However, the outside apiary would likely consider these threats and have preventive measures in place. The range of natural disasters may widen when looking at external locales, but there may also be more risks at home depending on what the apiary is near.
Legalities and Zoning
Zoning is the single item for deliberation that could stop beekeepers from having bees on their land. The person may have no choice but to seek third-party space because their county, district, HOA, neighborhood or city does not allow at-home beekeeping. Laws change from state to nation, so review local guidelines or speak to experts for the most accurate information.
These are a few examples of what locals may anticipate from regulators and ordinances in their hometown:
- Rules against rooftop hives
- Registration fees and paperwork
- Routine inspections
- Honey processing and sales taxes
- Hive marking for clear ownership and identification
- Disease reporting and tracking
- Movable frame requirements
- Compliance frameworks and adhering to state agricultural management practices
- Adherence to honey storage conditions
- Nutrition labeling requirements
- Transportation restrictions
- Limits to the number of bees and hives
Beekeeping Experience
Taking care of an at-home apiary requires knowledge. It does not have to be formal education, though taking community courses could be helpful. However, experienced beekeepers are more likely to feel comfortable having bees nearby because they know the industry.
Novice and amateur beekeepers might find comfort in an offsite apiary, especially if it allows them to connect with others and obtain advice. They may have connections and assistance for those first interacting with upset bees, unexpected diseases or faulty equipment.
Attentiveness and Care
A beekeeper must acknowledge their work ethic and care tendencies. How do they interact with the bees and how frequently do they stress over their contentment? Beekeepers may only need several hours a week to monitor for necessities and bee health, depending on how many they have.
Some may find it more nerve-racking to not be able to check in on their colonies when the mood or anxiety strikes. Many have a strong emotional attachment to their bees, like pets, so there are better options than being far away. If the weather becomes tumultuous, running to the backyard and engaging in emergency protocol is faster than traveling elsewhere. Peace of mind is important to many making this decision.
Others are satisfied with keeping their beekeeping work separate. It is vital to question how much attention the beekeeper wants to give to their bees.
Space
There are plenty of practical pros and cons, such as space. If a beekeeper has acres of land to build a dream apiary, pursue that vision. Unfortunately, it is not enough to have room for only the hives. Around six to eight feet of clearance around the area is also required for safety. The bees should not feel restricted in where they can fly — horizontally and vertically.
What if someone rents or does not have yard space? What if their space is shared among other residents or neighbors, preventing them from having autonomy? What if fencing or privacy screens need to be taller or financially out of the question?
Eliminating these worries by having offsite bees could greatly relieve many. It also encourages more beekeepers because space does not have to be considered if financial access allows them to seek a cooperative or third-party location.
Safety and Neighborhood
Bee and beekeeper safety is the most critical aspect of the trade. A medley of influences impact apiary security, and the first is infrastructure. An offsite location might have more substantial materials housing the bees, whereas a DIY beekeeper may not have access to the same durable systems. The suitable housing protects them from weather, disease and predators, like ants. Human threats, such as vandalism, theft or other ill intent, are possible. If an at-home apiary is robust, looking elsewhere should not be needed.
However, neighbors, commuters and pedestrians are a constant and potentially vocal worry for beekeepers. Residents nearby may perceive the apiary as a threat, mainly if the households have children or pets. If bees escape the at-home apiary, they could infiltrate other homes, building nests elsewhere.
Problems are exacerbated if people nearby are allergic. If a beekeeper wants to avoid dealing with community politics and permissions, having an outside bee home could avert drama, fines and even lawsuits.
These thought processes also translate to those in the beekeeper’s home. If pets and children are used to being in the area of a prospective apiary, how will habits and moods shift based on this change? Is it well-received by all residents, or are there health and safety worries?
Flowering Plant Access
Many flowering plants should be near the apiary for the bees to pollinate and get nectar and pollen. It does not matter if it is a home garden or a variety of flowers on the offsite property. The only worry should be if there is enough to make the bee population content with a several-mile radius.
What is available should be native and not harmful to the bees. First-time homeowners acclimating to their land may want to review the soil, weeds and flowers to verify what should and should not be there. Bees will inspire produce and flowers to flourish, and it only helps beekeepers, wildlife or habitats if those thriving plants are not invasive, native and not a deterrent to biodiversity that keeps the land healthy.
Empowering pollinators in their natural symbiotic relationships is crucial for restoring nutrients to a planet destroyed by anthropogenic climate change.
Supporting Cooperatives
Some crave a community in their endeavors, and beekeeping is no exception. Perhaps an at-home apiary is too lonely of a setup, and finding somewhere else to host the bees will give opportunities to meet others and develop a community under one apiary. The connection may be enough to convince someone to stop at-home operations. Another location may provide more stability and consistency of care.
Adversely, solitude may be the reason to get into beekeeping in the first place, making the private option evident and enticing.
If someone has the financial ability to rent or be a member of a cooperative site, they are making a noticeable and powerful emotional contribution with their dollar. Investing in local businesses like this notifies residents and cities that beekeeping demand is high, and policymakers and financial bodies alike should support it.
Embracing Nature
This may be lower on a list of priorities, but apiaries outside someone’s home might be in gorgeous, natural settings. If someone struggles to venture outside of their property to enjoy and appreciate the great outdoors, purchasing external space is a delightful excuse. Every time the beekeeper visits their hives, they experience more profound joy and fulfillment from the Earth’s incentives.
Is At-Home or Offsite the Better Option?
This is an impossible question to ask without evaluating personal circumstances. Countless factors go into this monumental decision, but everyone should be able to arrive at the best answer by considering all of these perspectives. Beekeepers are dedicated to their craft and deeply care about the bees’ lives, so reviewing options leads to the happiest livelihoods of the hives.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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