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