HOST-A-HIVE IN YOUR BACKYARD
Professionally-Managed Backyard Beehives
With our Host-a-Hive service, you can turn your backyard into a home for thousands of pollinators and enjoy the tastiest honey you’ll ever try.
THE HOST-A-HIVE PROCESS
How does IT work?
1. ASSESSMENT
Schedule a property assessment to determine if your yard is suitable to host a hive. We’ll help select a spot that’s safe for you and the bees.
2. INSTALLATION
We’ll bring a locally crafted hive with a queen and thousands of worker bees. Invite your neighbors, it’s a lot of fun to watch!
3. INSPECTIONS
Every few weeks, we stop by to check on the health of the colony. We’ll update you on how they’re doing. Better yet, get hands-on with us if you’d like!
4. HARVEST
We’re not in it for the honey, but it sure is nice. When your colony has made a surplus, we’ll harvest, extract, and bottle it for you.
THE BENEFITS OF HOST-A-HIVE
Honey ISN’T THE HALF OF IT
POLLINATE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Your flowers will thank you. And your neighbor’s flowers, too. Bring over 60,000 bees to your neighborhood, increasing bee populations and pollination in your community.
MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT
Nearly 80% of all food is pollinated by bees. Yet, in 2021, 30% of honeybees did not survive the winter. The world needs more bees, and your backyard makes a perfect home.
CREATE A LIVING LAB IN YOUR YARD
All of our hives serve as a teaching center, where we learn lessons about bee behavior, biology, and management every time we inspect. In other words, your hive helps other hives.
GET CLOSE TO NATURE
A hive can have a positive impact on the ecosystem around you and often times can be a strong connection point between the host and our natural environment.
You can make a tangible difference for bees
Support a team of professional beekeepers dedicated to furthering bee health. Our regenerative practices are proven to help bees thrive in the Triangle.
*According to the Bee Informed Partnership 2021 Loss & Management Survey
Meet one of our beekeepers, Angelo! Our whole team is crazy about keeping bees healthy and we love getting to share our knowledge with others.
Last year we harvested nearly 700 pounds of honey for our hosts. We extract from each hive individually, to get you the most local honey possible.
BACKYARD BEEKEEPING FAQs
Have any questions? Ask away.
Is it safe to have a hive in my backyard?
We work with a species of honeybee known for being extremely docile. Many of our hosts are shocked when they see how gentle bees are during our Host-a-Hive visits. Remember, bees die when they sting, so they generally only do so as a last resort when they feel threatened. We do everything we can to ensure a safe, fun experience during our visits. This includes reminding you and your guests to never swat at bees, keep a safe distance, and avoid using machinery such as lawnmowers too close to the hive.
How much space do I need if I want to host a hive?
Not much at all! Ideally, a backyard hive should have at least 5 of space in front of its entrance. Think of this as a “runway” where bees can fly in and out without obstructions. The back of the hive should have about 3 to 5 feet of space for the beekeeper to work comfortably.
Where do your bees come from?
Our goal is to raise resilient bees that are adapted to our local environment. To accomplish this, we avoid importing bees from out of state. Instead, we split our healthiest colonies and propagate their genetics. Prior to being installed in backyards, our bees pollinate crops at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Farm in Raleigh, which provides locally grown, chemical-free produce for those in need. We also raise our own queens and purchase all of our woodenware locally.
I have children and/or pets—is it safe to have a hive?
Yes! As long as good beekeeping practices are followed, it is perfectly safe to host a hive with children and pets. The hive’s location is an important factor and should not be placed directly next to a dog kennel or children’s play structures. During our Host-a-Hive installation, we’ll demonstrate how to move safely around bees! Generally, bees will only sting in self-defense, so bee kind and try not to step on them and you will be fine. We’ll also provide any necessary beekeeping safety equipment and gear if you or your kids would like to get up close and hands-on.
What if I do not have a garden?
No worries! Honey bees will forage up to 3 miles away from their hive. That said, we find many hosts become avid gardeners after signing up for our service. We’d be happy to share resources if you’re interested in planting more food for your bees.
Can I watch when my hive is being worked on?
Absolutely! We started Buddha Bee Apiary to share our love of honey bees with others. During every visit, our beekeepers are there to take care of the colony and educate anyone interested in the hive's inner workings.
I have more questions!
Great, we’d love to answer them! Submit a request for a property inspection. There’s no obligation. We’d be happy to walk through any questions you may have.