Tinker ☀️

Went to the annual seed swap that the local Master Gardeners put together at the beginning of each growing season.

Free seeds. All of them.

The library was there as well and gathered up all of the thousands and thousands of seeds that were not claimed so that they could put it in the seed library!

Anyhow....

A local Beekeeping group is offering a series of classes on beekeeping!!!

I have an idea...

You know how we have community gardens? You can claim a plot and grow in the garden even if you don't have a lawn?!

What if...

What if we had COMMUNITY APIARIES?!?!?!

How cool would that bee?

#solarPunk #communityGarden #communityApiary #beekeeping #mutualAid

Feb 4, 2025 at 5:45pmWeb
Show threadTinker ☀️Feb 6, 2025

Ok, went to the first beekeeping group meeting.

Wow they have their stuff down.

The 8 week course (class is once a week for like 2 hours) is DENSE!!! It's packed heavy with info.

I've got lots of material to study.

Also! They set you up with group mentors.

I'm going to be raising bees!!!! And getting honey!!!!

Problem is... I don't have a yard.... so I need to find a place to build my apiary(ies).

Two options:
1) Sometimes local farmers want bees on their property to help with polination... but they dont want to keep them themselves... so they see if any local beekeepers want to build and maintain an apiary on their land.
2) Community apiaries near community gardens. I need to email some of the coordinators for the local community gardens and see what we can do.

Food production, yo!

#solarPunk #beekeeping #mutualAid

Show threadGraham Sutherland / PolynomialFeb 6, 2025
@tinker we have local allotments, not sure if there's anything like that near you? I know our local one is big on community programs like that, so an offer of bees to keep everyone's plants pollinated would be very welcome.
Show threadTinker ☀️Feb 6, 2025

@gsuberland - yeah, we have two community gardens that have allotments. They're always taken with a long wait list (we should build more...).

I think having several apiaries relatively close by would be a good thing.

I need to sort out how close they could be, etc.

So definitely something to pursue.

Show threadGraham Sutherland / PolynomialFeb 6, 2025

@tinker also, beeeeees! :D

https://checkthebees.org/

Check the Bees

Show threadRandom Damage 🌻Feb 6, 2025
@tinker bees are very rewarding!
There's also a whole raft of maladies that hives are susceptible to, I'm sure you are learning all about the ones most common in your area.
Show threadAnneHFeb 6, 2025
@RandomDamage @tinker Great you're doing bees! Please bear in mind that some people in the community may be dangerously allergic to bee stings.
Show threadRandom Damage 🌻Feb 6, 2025

@annehargreaves @tinker part of the reason for beekeepers is *also* to make sure that wild colonies have luxury hives that are much comfier and easy to defend than typical wild hive locations.

They are also very distinctive for people

This way people with those allergies can see where the bees are more easily

Show threadmaswanFeb 6, 2025
@tinker
I'd offer space at my cabin where I have just gotten a small orchard going (bees seem to love the raspberries), but I expect the Sweden commute to be a bit far for practicalities.
Show threadTinker ☀️Feb 7, 2025
@maswan - If I'm ever living in the area, I'll definitely take you up on that, lol!
Show threadr3x3rFeb 7, 2025
@tinker
Show threadnot a martian, honestFeb 7, 2025
@r3x3r @tinker just don't get confused
Show threadmalteFeb 7, 2025

@tinker in berlin, keeping bees on your balcony is a thing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

https://www.stadtbienen.org/

Show threadTinker ☀️Feb 7, 2025

@malte - yeah, it's city by city here. Each has its own code.

My city's municipal code states:

Keeping of up to two hives of honeybees on an occupied, principally residential lot shall be allowed, provided that:

(1) No hive shall be located closer than 10 feet to any side property line or public sidewalk or closer than five feet to a rear property line.

(2) A constant supply of fresh water shall be provided on the lot, within 20 feet of all hives.

(3) A flyway barrier at least six feet in height shall shield any part of a property line that is within 25 feet of a hive, or facing a hive opening. The flyway barrier shall consist of a wall, solid fence, dense vegetation or a combination thereof.

#beekeeping

Show threadcirdan12Feb 7, 2025
@tinker will you make mead as well? Check out the Mead Hall on discord if that interests you. Very knowledgeable people.
Show threadTinker ☀️Feb 7, 2025
@cirdan12 - cheers for the lead!
Show threadMartin HowittFeb 8, 2025
@tinker this sounds great, but would caution against setting up an apiary in an urban setting or where there are already lots of bees, as they are omnivores in plant terms and can drive out more specialised pollinators.
Disclaimer: I am not a beekeeper (IANAB) but was involved with some a while ago
Show threadDrew Maness ✅Feb 4, 2025
@tinker great idea.
Show threadMaroFeb 4, 2025

@tinker

Also way less land and labor intensive than community gardening, so perhaps ideal for people with low spoons per day.

Show threaddatum (n=1)Feb 4, 2025

@tinker I have been part of a community apiary!

It was extraordinarily easy. Unfortunately I wasn't there when the honey was harvested.

TLDR, IIRC: someone volunteered space in their lush and diverse back garden (not a yard) and we had a few bee boxes set up. It was really small, folks joined by word of mouth, prime caretaker for the month was chosen by email, I think there was a work-done pad with the boxes. There was an actual apiarist who 'guided from afar' and was available to answer questions.

Super easy. But then I wasn't a core organizer. I'm sure there was some spin-up effort.

And for entertainment purposes only: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-tl6GBOBo

#bees

Eddie Izzard - Covered In Bees

YouTube
Show threadMomoFeb 4, 2025

@tinker
That will surely help getting the plants pollinated. Even if it's not for the honey, it's a great idea.

I see, someone is very buzzy... 😅

Show threadSteven PyleFeb 4, 2025

@tinker Your solarpunk posts are giving me hope and life right now. Keep 'em coming. :)

I also keep bees and the effect they have on a garden is huge. Best crops I've ever had.

Show threadBramblyBearWhufflingFeb 4, 2025

@tinker

Imagine too that community apiaries share space with community medicinal gardens and food forests so bees can feast on wide array of medicinal as well as food plants. Imagine these lush, peaceful places host community therapies like gardening therapy, music, art, biblio-, peer support, body works like tai chi, yoga, all surrounded by plants, trees and bees.

I would never want to leave.

Show threadAriel KroonFeb 5, 2025
I know my partner and I would love a community apiary - we have no knowledge of beekeeping nor time/money to invest in a whole setup, so it would be awesome to have a low-barrier-to-entry way to get started with it!