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Comments

• [1] BluokR from Manhattan April 15, 2009 - 11:51AM

  Hard to believe that it is not illegal to keep filthy pigeons in NYC, but it is against the law to keep bees. That said, it would be bad if africanized honey bees made their home here and attacked children and pets.

  
  
• [2] Hugh from Brookyn April 15, 2009 - 11:55AM

  I grew up upstate and routinely saw hives under the eaves of the roof of our house. Once in decades I got stung when I *stepped* on the hive.

  Bees that are out hunting for nectar are pretty close to *zero* risk -- they're too busy just looking for food.

  I also routinely photograph bees a very close distances (1 or 2 feet) and have never been stung.

  
  
• [3] Raina Moore from Brooklyn April 15, 2009 - 11:59AM

  Great documentary about beekeeping in Brooklyn by Melissa Lohman Wild

  http://melissalohmanwild.com/film.html

  
  
• [4] Suzanne from Queens April 15, 2009 - 12:08PM

  My next door neigbhbors kept bees for about five years, and created constant problems for us. We both have tiny backyards, and they kept about 6 hives. The bees used our backyard as a fly line. They would often carpet our backyard. We had a toddler at the time. They were attracted to her toys, her kiddie pool, and often to her. She tended to pull off her shoes at the time, and frequenty stepped on bees. She was stung multiple times. Bees ruined backyard birthday parties.

  I agree that bees are not of themselves aggressive, but in close quarters like NYC, their locations would need to be carefully regulated in order to prevent them from becoming a nuisance to neighbors.

  
  
• [5] Phil Henshaw from NYC April 15, 2009 - 12:08PM

  It seems to me that changing the rules to let people raise bees on their roofs is a community issue. Perhaps one community board or another would be a place to discuss it rather than by legal redefinition of the laws in court.

  With bee hives on rooftops there would be more bees in arms reach for anyone with flowering shrubs, window boxes or landscaping, for example. Would they notice?, or need to learn the hard way?, that their private environment had now become more a part of the larger environment? That is what we all need to learn generally, how we ourselves and our cultures can become fully part of nature. So the education needed for bees could serve both the specific and general sustainability purposes.

  
  
• [6] JP from The Garden State April 15, 2009 - 12:10PM

  Bees, fine, no problem. They already exist naturally in NYC. Chickens, no way. Have you ever lived next to someone who just has a few chickens? You thought that loud dog living next to you is bad…. Chickens = lots of noise. Especially if you have a rooter in the mix. If not taken proper care of, they can be very dirty and very effective in spreading disease. Chickens belong in the country, not in heavily populated areas. It’s not fair to make a bunch of peoples lives uncomfortable with loud noise just so you can eat fresh chickens. Buy a farm and raise your domesticated animals there where they belong.

  
  
• [7] Kevin Matteson from Bronx, NY April 15, 2009 - 12:20PM

  In addition to European Honey Bees there are over 200 other species of wild bees such as bumble bees, mining bees, masked bees and cuckoo bees. These bees are naturally present in NYC, often more abundant than honey bees, and also help pollinate vegetables and wild fruits. To get involved in protecting and monitoring all the urban bee species in NYC in addition to honey bees, check out nycbeewatchers.org or email us for more info at beewatchers@gmail.com.

  
  
• [8] Ruth Bitter from Westchester April 15, 2009 - 12:20PM

  My next door neighbor kept bees. It was impossible to work in my garden without stepping on bees they were everywhere. I could not find any gardener that would work in my yard. I do not think this is a good idea in densely populated areas.

  Additionally I think you are under estimating the danger of bee stings, I personally know several people that are allergic, and one that died from a bee sting.

  I wonder if you have ever been chased by a swarm of bees. My dog and I have and we both got numerous stings. Even a honey bee will give chase for a while. Does your average city dweller know to run? Do bees wait at the crosswalk?

  
  
• [9] Gabriel from Brooklyn April 15, 2009 - 12:22PM

  Glad to see people are generally supportive of urban beekeeping. Seems to be part of an overall trend towards local food production and greater connection to where we get our sustenance. Bees really are quite docile, although I agree that one needs to be respectful of neighbors and mindful of hive placement.

  As for chickens, it is currently illegal to keep roosters in NYC, so people should just be keeping hens, which are quite quiet (they don't crow). And people are generally keeping them for eggs, not meat. True, they can be a bit messy, but their manure is great for gardens, and if small numbers are kept it's not a bog problem.

  
  
• [10] Jacquie Berger from Just Food, NYC April 15, 2009 - 01:13PM

  You can learn a lot more about bees, beekeeping, and our campaign to legalize beekeeping in NYC at our website: http://www.justfood.org/issues/index.html

  Here's the link to our petition to lift the ban on beekeeping in NYC: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/legalize-beekeeping.html

  Thanks to all you urban beekeepers out there who are helping to keep our urban gardens and farms productive and making delicious, local honey available for New Yorkers!

  
  
• [11] Paulo Anjou from LES April 18, 2009 - 09:18PM

  There is a great association to learn more about beekeeping in NYC:

  The New York City Beekeepers Association

  www.nyc-bees.org

  Monthly meetings, classes, workshops, great people, informative, educational, fun.

  I sound like a commercial!

  
  
• [12] Landi Simone from Montville, NJ June 24, 2009 - 08:15AM

  Legalizing honey bees in NYC would probably result in FEWER stinging incidents, not more. Honey bees overlap some of the same ecological niches occupied by much more defensive insects like yellow jackets and hornets. Having more of the gentle honey bees in the city will mean fewer wasps and fewer stings. You cannot "step on a 'bee' nest," because honey bees do not nest in the ground. It was probably yellow jackets. And you will never be "chased" by a "swarm" of European honey bees. True swarms are interested in new digs, not stinging. The only way a large number of honey bees will follow you is if you have done something incredibly stupid like taken a bat to their hive, in which case you deserve every sting you get! Sensible 'good neighbor' beekeeping practices and reasonable hive density restrictions will make for a happy urban beekeeping experience for all. - L. Simone, Master Beekeeper, NJ