Beekeeping
Community Beekeepers
Hudson Gardens provides opportunities to practice the craft of beekeeping in a community apiary setting. Each year, both new and experienced beekeepers are invited to apply to this program.
Interested in becoming a beekeeper at Hudson Gardens? Contact Dakota Taylor at dtaylor@hudsongardens.org.
The Benefits of Beekeeping at Hudson Gardens
The Hudson Gardens’ Community Apiary exists to raise awareness about honeybees and gain support for their conservation. The beehives are maintained by individual beekeepers who apply for the program on an annual basis. The benefits of joining the program include:
- A beautiful setting with an abundance of diverse nectar sources.
- Access to a community of beekeepers who can answer questions and assist with conducting hive assessments.
- Participation in apiary mentorship sessions.
- Opportunities to engage with the public and promote beekeeping.
All Hudson Gardens Beekeepers must agree to the following:
- Use of natural, integrated pest management methods that are minimally invasive, chemical-free, and non-toxic.
- Participation in educational outreach activities on behalf of Hudson Gardens.
- Non-commercial usage of honey and other products derived from the hive at Hudson Gardens.
- Adequate experience or participation in Hudson Gardens beekeeping classes.
- Adherence to the City of Littleton Beekeeping Ordinance (PDF). NOTE: This link is broken.
Check back soon for updates about our schedule of beekeeping classes.
Beekeeping Resources
Colorado State and Regional Associations and Clubs
Colorado State Beekeepers Association
Southeast Beekeeping Club (Parker)
Boulder County Beekeepers Association (Boulder)
Pikes Peak Beekeepers Association (Colorado Springs)
Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association (Fort Collins/Greeley/Loveland)
4 Corners Beekeepers Association (Durango)
To Bee or Not To Bee (Littleton)
Mile Hive Bee Club (Denver)
Mountain High Beekeepers Cooperative (Fort Collins)
Brighton Bee Club (Brighton)
Beekeeping Supplies and Farms
To Bee Or Not To Bee (Littleton, CO)
Highland Honey Bees (Boulder, CO)
Dakota Bees (Wheat Ridge, CO)
Apis Hive & Honey Co. (Grand Junction, CO)
Brushy Mountain Bee Farm (North Carolina)
Betterbee (New York)
Mann Lake (California)
Georgia Bee Supply (Georgia)
National Organizations
Beekeeping Publications
American Bee Journal
Bee Culture: The Magazine of American Beekeeping
Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture (Ross Conrad, 2013)
The Barefoot Beekeeper (P.J. Chandler, 2010)
The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in your Yard and Garden (Kim Flottum, 2014)
The Beekeeper’s Handbook (Diana Sammataro & Alphonse Avitabile, 2011)
Beekeeping for Dummies (Howland Blackiston, 2009)
Honeybee Democracy (Thomas D. Seeley, 2010)
The New Complete Guide to Beekeeping (Roger A. Morse, 2014)
The Practical Beekeeper: Beekeeping Naturally (Michael Bush, 2011)
Attracting Native Pollinators (The Xerces Society & Dr. Marla Spivak, 2011)