How many in the space are interested in bee keeping?
I have several hives in Oklahoma, and had 4 hives in my yard here (sudden colony collapse got then last year). I plan to start another apiary here this spring.
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I’m highly interested.
I am in love with the concept of beekeeping and I would love to learn more - so let’s be friends!
I was a beekeeper and queen grafter commercially in Mississippi for a season. I’d have no problem getting back into it. I’ve got some literature to share too if we want to meet up for some data swapping.
Sorry to hear about your loss, Mike. 
Trinity Valley Beekeeper’s has a good network if you’re looking for swarms. Free bees are good bees.
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I know nothing about it, but I think it’s pretty awesome from my armchair. Do you think keeping a hive on the MS roof or something would be feasible?
Here’s one vote for no bees NEAR the MS. I know they’re beneficial in many ways, but I have no desire for proximity to them.
My understanding is the roof is the worst place to keep bees. They like to be cool, and that is one thing a Texas roof in Summer is not.
I like the idea, but are any members of DMS allergic to bee stings? If so, I think keeping bees there could be a bit of a problem.
OK, let’s start by clearing out a few misconceptions.
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Honey Bees do not sting unless they are protecting their hive. Bee strings away from the hive are more the fault of the person they sting, you stepped on them or crushed them with your hand (or other body part).
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Most bee stings are the result of swatting a bee investigating your brightly colored clothing. Bees see colors differently then we do so don’t think that dark orange shirt won’t catch their notice. You swat and hit, they sting, use a gentle shooing motion to ward of an inquisitive bee.
Africanized bee stings are no more powerful that a normal honey bee. Africanized bees are more dangerious because they attack in mass and over a greater distance, sometimes up to a 1/4 mile away. Which is why the MS might not be a good idea for an apiary, too easy to inadvertently disturb the hive.
Keeping bees on the roof is do able, I’ve clean out many a hive from AC units on commercial property. Heat isn’t a problem for bees as long as there is a supply of fresh water near by.
I was thinking for of a backyard or other vacant property for your hive(s). I have the extraction equipment that I could bring in during harvest season.
I’m interested. My dad had an apiary on our farm years ago.
Thanks for the explanation.
I’m thinking that Bio should find a plot of land nearby that it could use for gardening projects. Most cities will allow space in their community garden, if the gardeners donate half their produce to the local food bank. I don’t know what they would say about bringing in bees.
I understand that bees are not hunting for people to sting. I like them, and it doesn’t bother me to be in close proximity to them. However, for people who actually could die from a bee sting, it doesn’t matter whose fault the sting is. I think it would be best to keep the bee hives some distance from concentrations of people.
I live in East Plano, and Plano has a large community garden (as do several area churches). I don’t know what Carrollton has, but Farmer’s Branch has a community garden, too. If those don’t work, perhaps we could find a plot of land outside city limits.
That’d be cool. It’ll give me a chance to use my years of farming experience.
I am interested! Our family has zero experience, but our apple trees and aquaponics would love the little engineers.
The only problem is our landlords.
I believe they do not want anything on the roof. I had problems when I was trying to put gardens up there.
There is a spot at 33.0014237,-96.8915778 that looks like people have intended to grow stuff there, but I have never seen any official signage, actual harvesting, much less any healthy plants there.
It just so happens that my house is practically right across the street from this precise point, and I had a massive hive removed from my attic a couple weeks ago. I never got stung by any live ones despite seeing them in the house at least once a week (except during winters), and having personally removed 40 or 50 of them when the beekeepers came. (I finally had them removed after getting stung by stepping on a dead one with my bare foot.)
I haven’t tried the honey yet, and am saving it for a special occasion. I can’t wait to see if the “house honey” is tasty. 
The honey quality varies greatly depending on nearby vegetation.
That spot is in the Green Belt, aside from being prone to flooding it is also designated as a nature area. City would allow us to use it and as an apiary being that close to an apartment complex is inviting vandals.
I definitely would be interested in learning more. I too am a fan of the honey and need to really learn more before I could say if I wanted to do it long term myself. I would certainly be up for a community set of hives.