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 Classes

Beekeeping Resources

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)

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)