One Growing Season Later: A Look at Beekeeping in Brooklyn Center
A beekeeping ordinance was passed almost a year ago in Brooklyn Center.
So far, only five people registered including Sara Capers.
Capers has been keeping bees for seven years. She said it’s vital to a healthy environment.
“Its definitely not a hobby that’s for everyone but its something that brings some a lot of joy and will likely do it for a long time,” said Capers.
About 300,000 bees work inside the hives located in Capers backyard.
“I have four condos for my ladies,” Capers explained.
Last year, Capers was concerned she’d have to let her busy friends go because of the buzz in the city over whether to pass a beekeeping ordinance.
“The beekeeping ordinance, the way it was written before, it didn’t really allow the city to regulate anything,”Capers told CCX. “It just said Brooklyn Center was aware that people were keeping and were silent on the issue.”
The city voted in the bees favor early this year, but there are some regulations including a required city registration.
“There’s one way to request that a bee registration get denied and that’s if a neighbor can document bee allergy,” explained Jesse Anderson with Brooklyn Center.
Other rules include that bee colonies need to be at least 30 feet away from a neighbors home.
“I think the ordinance went into effect a little late in the spring, so not everybody was able to prepare all winter for it so maybe we expect more next year?” said Anderson.
Overall, Anderson said it’s been going well.
