My paternal grandmother kept bees, and I loved the honey that she gave us. We had a lot of bees around the house when I was growing up, and my bedroom had the only fireplace in the house. My great-grandfather built the house, and he had an odd sense of floor plan - the fireplace in the bedroom being only one aspect of it. Anyway, the screen over the fireplace was very coarse, and so bees came into the chimney and built hives. If I lit a fire in the fireplace, honey would drip down. Once I accidentally stepped on a bee in my bedroom, and my foot got very swollen, and I was unable to go to school for several days, as I was unable to walk and was in great pain, although I do not think I am allergic to bees. Actually, I had jumped from my bed and landed on a bee, and so I did more than just step on it. I had to go to the doctor to have the stinger removed.

Yes, it is interesting to keep bees.

Lars

I am a first year bee keeper, set up 2 hives April 3. There is a LOT to learn about keeping bees. I joined a local bee keeping society about a year before I got my bees, also took a 8 week class taught by the head of the Entomology department of Clemson University (sponsored by the bee keeping society).
I would recommend that you locate a local bee keeping society and join up. Also start reading everything you can get your hands on.
This has been an extremely satisfying journey for me even though I will not get honey until next year, hopefully. New hives do not generally produce enough the first year for the keeper to get any. They must have enough to feed themselves through the winter. Do a google search and bee amazed at how much info is available. Look for the bee keeping society in your state and that will link you to a lot of information.
Good luck and I will be glad to share my limited knowledge with you.
Murphy

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.beesource.com/

Lot's of problems with getting good honey, that's why it is great idea to keep bees.

Yes, it is possible to keep bees in urban and suburban environment. I know people who do and actually make enough to sell.

I buy honey from my farmer friend's apiary. Very good stuff.

You get bee wax to make candles too.

If it weren't for a neighbor who is very allergic to bee stings, I would be very interested in a few hives too.

dcarch

Here is a link that might be useful: Careful, Honey

We spoke to a beekeeper who had a display at our county fair a few weeks ago. It was very interesting. The keeper did say that he gets stung a few times a week.

While its seems like a neat idea, if/when we have more land, DH hates getting bee stings. We have both had a few bad experiences with bees.

Lars, your story brings back bad memories. We had hornets in our bedroom one year.

The keeper we spoke to suggested anyone interested contact the local bee society and they are more than happy to help out those interested in beekeeping. I did learn you do need the morning sun and a good source of water.

Yes, bees do fine in an urban environment. The Grand Rapids Children's Museum has a hive downtown in their building, with clear sides so the children can see the bees working and a tube they go in an out through.

Elery and I will put some bees at the farm when we move there, although I'll have to find a place where it doesn't become a black bear problem.

There isn't that much work, but there is a lot of knowledge, equipment, processes to go through when learning to keep bees. The first year you won't get much but a productive hive can produce a LOT of honey after that first year.

I agree, contact the beekeeping clubs and societies in your state, or your local extension service. Many have classes or other resources which will heop you get started.

It's a good thing, we NEED bees.

Annie