REGINA – Your neighbour’s backyard might be buzzing with a growing interest in urban beekeeping.
Dave Hall’s love affair with his backyard hive started five years ago, though the original plan was to help pollinate his crabapple tree.
“I thought more bees would mean more pollinated flowers, more apples, so it really wasn’t about the honey,” Hall said.
It turns out the few thousand bees in his colony skip the tree, but still deliver pollen for honey.
His setup is just metres from the neighbouring property. There’s no bylaw against it, and the City of Regina said it will stay that way as long as urban beekeepers don’t become a nuisance to others.
Hall said they’re no nuisance and if anything, the bees are a boon to the Queen City.
“A healthy bee community means good gardening, good tomato crops and other garden vegetables,” Hall said.
Fifteen minutes north of the city, there are a few hundred thousand more bees.
Andrew Hamilton is a fourth-generation beekeeper who leads the Regina and District Bee Club.
He’s happy to offer advice, but also warned not everyone should beekeep within city limits.
“There are ads out there that say, ‘The bees know what to do, it’s easier than you think.’
“It’s not,” he says. “You have to provide a water source and treat against serious diseases like American Foulbrood.”
Hamilton said it’s also critical to prevent swarming.
“You have to make sure the bees have enough space and you can’t take a month of holidays, you have to be there to manage them,” he said. “It’s no different than having a pet.”
It helps, too, if you consult your neighbours first. In Hall’s case, he sweetens the pot with honey.
“They bring the jars back and are looking for a refill, so I hope it’s okay.”
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