Urban Bee Company supplies and manages honey bees for homeowners, schools, community gardens, restaurants, and parks in Seattle.

What’s Good

By hosting honey bees, you get pollination for your garden and educational opportunities by having bees (and beekeepers) in your yard. It’s a great way to learn about and support healthy bee populations. And you don’t have to get your face close to 50,000 bees.

Hive hosts get one pound of honey per hive, at the end of the summer. We separate harvests by neighborhood, and when possible will supply you with honey from your yard.

See what people are saying about their experience hosting hives.

What It Costs

For homeowners: The cost is $100 for the first hive and $50 each for hives 2, 3, and 4 (space permitting). Why the fee? Because of pests and diseases, honey bees are in major decline. Beekeepers see up to 50% of their colonies die each year. Micro-scale, local, natural beekeeping will help stem this tide, but it is expensive and time-consuming. By hosting bees you are helping make a significant agricultural shift!

For schools, community gardens, and parks: no charge, as long as you participate in our education program–which includes free access for your students, residents, neighbors, or constituents.

For restaurants, businesses, and farms: We can customize solutions for any interested party. We love collaborations and interesting projects; let us know what you have in mind!

Timeline

We’ll do a free site visit to assess the viability of your property for bees; this generally happens between December and March. Installations generally happen in April, and require a one-year hosting agreement.

Locations

Please inquire no matter your location in Seattle. Through our Urban Beekeeper Network, we manage hives in numerous neighborhoods throughout the city.

Our preferred areas for 2012 are Seattle east of I-5 and between Ravenna and Rainier Beach, so bonus points for you if you’re there! We welcome all inquiries.

Inquire Now

Tell us more about who and where you are.