Urban Bee Keeper Revival

BurghBees Apiary
Photo: Justin Merriman

Bees are incredibly interesting social animals. A renewed interest in bees and beekeeping has led to the formation of bee keeping collectives that maintain apiaries in urban areas. One of the first was BurghBees in Pittsburg, PA. The collective has a location where members can maintain hives, take classes and exchange information. Courses are offered in topics from beginning bee keeping to advanced bee management. Collectives offer opportunities for bee keepers whose living accommodations do not allow them to keep bees at home.

The program has had good success and is being imitated in other communities in the US.