Glossary
A location where beehives are kept and managed by a beekeeper. An apiary can range from a single backyard hive to a commercial operation with hundreds of colonies. Our apiary is located in Bradenton, Florida.
Not every spot works for keeping bees. A good apiary needs several things: access to diverse forage within a 2 to 3 mile radius, a water source nearby, morning sunlight to warm the hive entrance and get bees flying early, wind protection to keep hives stable, and adequate distance from high-traffic human areas to reduce the chances of conflict.
In Florida, the calculus is a bit different from northern states. We do not need to worry about harsh winters that can kill colonies outright, but we deal with constant humidity, summer thunderstorms, and a pest pressure that does not let up year-round. Small hive beetles and varroa mites thrive in subtropical conditions, so our apiary management is more vigilant than what a beekeeper in Vermont would need.
Our hives sit in Bradenton, Florida, in Manatee County. The surrounding landscape gives our bees access to a rotating menu of nectar sources throughout the year. In spring, citrus blossoms and wildflowers dominate. Summer brings saw palmetto and palmetto berry blooms. Fall and early winter are marked by Brazilian pepper, an invasive species that, for all its ecological drawbacks, is one of the most productive honey plants in South Florida.
This floral diversity is what gives our honey its character. The flavor, color, and aroma shift from harvest to harvest because our bees are not placed on monoculture fields. They forage freely on whatever is blooming, and the resulting honey reflects the season.
Beekeeping has seen a surge of interest from backyard hobbyists and urban farmers over the past decade. Many municipalities now allow backyard beekeeping with simple registration requirements. A backyard apiary typically consists of just 1 to 3 hives, enough to produce honey for personal use and pollinate a home garden. The growth of urban beekeeping has been positive for bee populations and has helped raise awareness about the importance of pollinators.
Most municipalities that allow backyard beekeeping permit 2 to 4 hives on a standard residential lot. Check your local zoning ordinances, as regulations vary. A single hive can produce 30 to 60 pounds of surplus honey per year in a good location.
Florida requires beekeepers to register their hives with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. There is no cost for registration. Registered apiaries are subject to periodic inspection to monitor for diseases and pests.
Honey bees typically forage within a 2 to 3 mile radius of their hive, though they can fly up to 5 miles if necessary. This means a single apiary's bees can cover over 28 square miles of foraging territory.
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