Urban beekeeping 'cool thing to do'

Backyardbeekeeping in Vancouver is all the buzz these days and youngfamilies are welcoming hives into their backyards, say professionalbeekeepers.

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"Many younger family-types with little kids are getting beehives with us," said Bryn Jones with3BHoneybee, a business that will install hives and look after them in your backyard.

The business model is one of the ways urban beekeeping is taking shape in the city.

Jones has around 60 hives around town and he's already got a wait list for next year.

"It's media driven in some way. People are concerned about these bees and are becoming more aware that they're having difficulties," said Jones of the plight of the honey bees.

Connecting with nature

Other urban beekeepers are looking to be more in touch with their garden, saidJulia Commonwith Hives for Humanity.

The non-profit organization teaches beekeeping to people living in Vancouver's poorest neighbourhoods, but it also manages beehives.

The families, or hive hosts, get a share of the honey and the rest of the honey is sold to support the organization's programming.

Lisa Giroday is one such hive host.

"It's a pleasure to have around, we are happy to host them" Giroday said.

She added that bees help her bypollinatingfruit trees, berries and flowers.

The bees also serve as a learning toolfor her two-year-old daughter, Wren.

"Learning how to treat nature and respect bugs and animals," said Giroday.

Her preschool daughter saidtasting the warm honey from the hive is her favourite part.

'Cool to do good'

Giroday, who helps others grow their garden through her company Victory Gardens, says more of her customers and friends are looking to have bees in their backyard.

"It's becoming cool to do good, to do good things and live with a lighter footprint. Beekeeping 100 per cent fits into that," she said.

Proper training needed - or diseases can spread

While it's great that interest in helping the honey bees hasgrown, experts warn that improper beekeeping can actually do more harm than good.

"One of the biggest problems urban beekeeping faces... is having appropriate training to keep [bees]," said Leonard Foster, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology with University of British Columbia.

"If [keepers]don't have training to watch out for diseases, theycan spread even faster if a lot of people are beekeeping in inappropriate ways," said Foster.

That is why expert beekeepersencourage hobbyist to takeappropriate training or to consider sponsoring a hive.