National Urban Beekeeping Day
Honeybees are vital in the natural ecosystem, but these pollinators are at risk in many places. Unlike most types of livestock, certain types of honey bees can easily be kept in urban settings.
Position urban beekeeping as an accessible, community-driven sustainability practice that drives local honey sales, garden supplies, and educational workshops.
- Start your rooftop hive: beginner's guide to urban beekeeping kits and supplies
- Local honey, local impact: how urban beekeepers strengthen neighborhood ecosystems
- Teach kids to love bees: family-friendly beekeeping workshops and garden activities
- From balcony to harvest: real stories of city dwellers producing their own honey
Researchers and historians have shown that urban beekeeping has been going on for many centuries. In fact, Ancient Egyptians used to keep bees in their cities by using hives made of mud.
Today, urban beekeepers can be found scattered throughout some of the world’s major cities, including rooftops in New York City and Tokyo, balconies in Paris, green spaces in London, and many other amazing places.
Founded by the nonprofit organization Detroit Hives, National Urban Beekeeping Day’s inaugural celebration took place in 2019.
This event was established as a day of awareness and education, with the purpose of supporting urban beekeepers and those interested in them.
Learn Some Benefits of Urban Beekeeping
Thinking about whether urban beekeeping might be right for your family or neighborhood? National Urban Beekeeping Day is just the right time to ask some questions and learn more about the details of this practice. Ideally, you would contact someone already doing urban beekeeping and see if they would be willing to chat about the pros, cons, tips, and tricks. Get started here with some of these known benefits of urban beekeeping: Bees have a positive environmental and biodiversity impactBees produce crops of locally grown honey Bees encourage social engagement in the community Bees promote environmental awareness
Plant a Bee-friendly Urban Garden
Those with access to small plots of land, community gardens, or even potted patio or balcony plants can celebrate National Urban Beekeeping Day by planting more flowers that pollinators love!
Attend an Urban Beekeeping Workshop
Most people in the urban beekeeping community are excited to share their passion with others. This growing trend is a positive influence on communities, and many beekeepers are willing to share their knowledge and expertise with others. In honor of National Beekeeping Day, check out what a local urban beekeeping cooperative might be doing and join a workshop or webinar to learn more and foster relationships.
Teach Kids About Urban Beekeeping
Start encouraging children at a young age to recognize the friends that honey bees are to humans and the planet! Teachers and parents can take advantage of this day by taking the kids to visit an urban beekeeper and studying lessons related to the topic.