Last week was part two of urban beekeeper “Amy’s” story where she discussed the importance of resource management. Here is the last installment:

There are a lot of misconceptions about bees and proper beekeeping, and they stem from a lack of education.

For example, the reason why Amy declined to use her real name is because she’s heard many stories of people who were forced to shut down their colonies because of ignorant or malicious neighbors.

One example involved a man who was forced to relocate his hives due to complaints from neighbors, but was later asked to set up and maintain the hives of a couple of hotel chains in the metro. “He's [forced to remove his hives], but put the same insects he was keeping in a high end place and suddenly, it’s acceptable.”

This anecdote is darkly funny, highlighting how perception can be changed by proper marketing. That said, it’s sad that bees, without which entire ecologies would collapse, have to be “marketed” at all speaks to how detrimentally far removed many people are from nature, not to mention the food system.

It’s not just nosy neighbors who can be misinformed. Even enthusiasts might start off on the wrong foot, which might lead to discouragement, if they don’t choose their mentors wisely. Amy emphasizes educating oneself, which can include joining Facebook groups and reputable seminars such as ones offered by UPLB and some LGUs. “Take a class, be informed. And don't get into it thinking you're gonna make money. You really won't make much,” she said. “You have to be realistic about the cost.”

An important thing to think about even before buying a hive is whether the bees will be able to forage safely in one’s area. Folks who live near gardens that regularly use pesticide, for example, should think twice about keeping bees.

Despite her current situation, she advises potential urban beekeepers who live in densely populated areas to talk to their neighbors about their plans first to avoid misunderstandings later. Not all urban beekeeping stories end sadly, and there are many urban beekeepers whose hives continue to thrive in the city.

Folks who want to keep bees so they can sell their honey should be aware of the laws around it. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has rules on what constitutes sellable honey. For example, it has to be at a certain moisture level so it doesn’t ferment.

She also cautions about letting pride get in the way of safety. For example, keeping more boxes (hives) than one can safely lift, or not taking proper precautions in order not to get stung.

Because beekeeping can be expensive, some people have been tempted to cut corners. Amy told of a time she witnessed a pest treatment being misused, which could lead to the beekeeper’s honey being tainted with unwanted chemicals.

“It really made me think that other than the issue of ‘Are you really buying real honey, or not, are they tainting with corn syrup or sugar?’ The other thing is if the honey you're buying has been exposed to chemicals that you're not aware of because the person just didn't bother to follow (package instructions?)”

Lastly, she emphasizes that good honey isn’t cheap. “There's this thing that started in the UK for beekeepers: honey isn't cheap, and cheap honey isn't real,” she said. “When someone asks, ‘Why is your honey so expensive?’ [I want to say], ‘Why don't you try keeping bees for a year? And then you tell me, why is it expensive?’”

When asked what beekeeping has taught her, Amy said, “Everyone thinks that the queen is the one that runs the colony because that's how we think about royalty. But actually, it's a democracy… A beehive is a super organism. It's a living thing. The queen may be the heart, but when the workers sense that the queen isn't up to standard… they can supersede her. So she could be walking around or laying, and right in front of her, they will build a new queen cell. It’s like saying, ‘We don’t like how you're performing, so we're gonna replace you. But until we replace you, go ahead and keep on laying.’

“[And if] the workers want to swarm, they’ll… go out and scout for a new place to live. The queen has no say.

“So what do we learn from beekeeping? It's a democracy. The power is with the colony. Not with the queen.”