Amy asks about keeping bees on a small city lot and whether a hive can be
self-sustaining.

You certainly can keep bees on a small city lot, hundreds do so, and they
are even kept on top of apartment buildings!  What you most have to think of
is neighbors.  My advice is:
1. Somehow screen or hide them so that they are not in constant view of the
neighbors.
2. Tell the neighbors you have them, but don't make a special trip out of
it.  Tell them while you are working in the yard, etc.  If the bees have
been there a couple of months before you get around to telling the
neighbors...all the better, as you can them tell them that and they can see
they are no threat.
3. Give the neighbors some honey!
4. Don't dress up like you are on a space walk when going into the hive.
Wear a veil, long sleeves, and (if necessary) gloves.  Shorts are good!

Your most likely problem will not be the hive being self-sustaining, but
keeping it from swarming because it is over-crowded!  Produce comb honey.
It requires a lot of effort on the part of the bees, and doesn't involve any
expensive equipment to extract the honey from the comb.

Brushy Mountain Bee Farm sells a hive especially designed to look good in a
small garden, and will also sell the comb honey equipment.  800-233-7929.

Hope this helps.

Lloyd
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Lloyd Spear Owner, Ross Rounds, Inc.  The finest in comb honey production.
Visit our web site at http://www.rossrounds.com.