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Would you buy a house next to someone who keeps bees?
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Anonymous
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We found a house we really like, the only catch is my husband was talking to the next door neighbor and apparently he keeps bees on the property. He told my husband they stay in his yard. I have no experience with such things- will they really stay in his yard? We have two young children (1.5 and 3) and I am just concerned about being able to play outside.
Thanks so much for any insight. |
Anonymous
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Well, first I would find out if he's licensed to keep bees. If he is, then I would say that it's pretty safe to assume he knows how the actually "keep" them?
just a thought.... |
Anonymous
| Yes, I would. You'll have a great garden because the bees will help to pollinate, and if you're lucky, you'll get free honey! Also, when the kids get older, maybe they'll get to help out with the bee keeping. |
Anonymous
| Absolutely, I'd live next to someone who keeps bees. As the PP noted, they're wonderful pollinators and a wonderful way to teach kids about nature. There's nothing more inherently dangerous about having a managed hive next door (and, no, they won't stay in his yard) than a wild hive elsewhere. |
Anonymous
| Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Bees are so important and they are disappearing. There is a growing movement for cities to allow beekeeping. Normal bees are good and helpful. We need them. They're necessary as pollinators. I'd move there and I'd be really grateful to him / her for doing the neighborhood such a service. |
Anonymous
| Okay, here's a caveat. Have you ever had bees form a colony inside one of your exterior (brick) walls? We did. Not fun and not inexpensive to get rid of them. Honey dripping and bees buzzing up in the ceiling above our light fixtures. A few bees figuring out how to crawl beyond the fixtures. My apologies to those of you who think they're wonderful--yes, they are--but not if they migrate. |
Anonymous
But, this could happen to anyone anywhere. I assume that this happened to you when you did not have an apiary next door? I wonder also, if having an apiary next door makes it less likely for bees to grow a colony near by (i.e., on your property)? BTW, f you have a bee keeper neighbor, I'm sure s/he'd be happy to help you out should this problem happen to you. |
Anonymous
| Definitely. They are great for your garden. My MIL keeps bees and my kids have never been stung in her yard. The bees have paths which they follow every day and they don't stay in the yard. In fact, they travel for pretty long distances. It is very easy to avoid them. |
Anonymous
That's true--no aviary next door, and I don't know much about bees or how often that might happen. Might be a very rare occurrence. |
Anonymous
| I would love to live next to a hive. I would grow all kinds of great veggies and flowers. I'm thinking of doing this myself. Unfortunately, I can't keep my houseplants alive right now so a beehive might need to wait til kids are way older. Unfortunately, though, I did start a hive my mother would never come visit us again. She is incredibly terrified of bees, wasps, yellow jackets etc. I could understand being apprehensive if you or your kids were allergic to bee stings but if you aren't then they are only an asset. |
Anonymous
| NO NO NO. I have a bee phobia, so this would be a total nightmare for me. |
Anonymous
| Mamy bee colonies are collapsing and bees are essential for all of us, without them we humans will die. Are you kidding, this is a fantastic opportunity for you to give an extraordinary gift to your children. |
Anonymous
| Bees can be the foundation for all things beautiful but if my memory does not fail me the more aggressive African bees that got out of a lab in Brazil decades ago have been spreading north and are already in this area? Am I right? |
Anonymous
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Yes, in fact, I would seek out such a neighbor.
We have two neighbors who keep bees, and we love it. |
Anonymous
| I would love to live next to a beekeeper. |