BEEKEEPING QUESTIONS
Our Honey
Is your honey raw and unfiltered?
Can I really taste the difference between neighborhoods?
Do you feed the bees sugar?
Why is your honey different than what I would buy at the grocery store?
My honey has crystallized. What do I do?
Beekeeping Mentorship
How do I get started beekeeping?How much space do I need?
What if I don't have any flowers?
Is beekeeping even legal where I live?
Will I own the bees, beehives and honey?
How much does beekeeping cost?
Is beekeeping dangerous? What if someone gets stung/is allergic?
What if my bees die?
Will I qualify for an agricultural tax exemption?
Is your honey raw and unfiltered?
Yes! We do not pasteurize our honey and only strain any large solids out of the honey, letting it retain the pollen and good stuff!
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Can I really taste the difference between neighborhoods?
Yes! Each harvest is symbolic of a specific place and specific time. Each colony has their own nectar and pollen preferences and it comes through in the taste of the honey. It's incredible!
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Do you feed the bees sugar?
No, not unless it's an emergency and that's only in rare cases as we have extra honey frames we can feed through the collective.
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Why is your honey different than what I would buy at the grocery store?
Indeed, it is. First, many of the honeys at the store are heated, blended or cut with other syrups. Many are imported. Even the local honey at the store will likely be from a commercial producer who employs different practices than the backyard beekeeper.
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My honey has crystallized. What do I do?
You can eat it as is! But if you prefer it liquid, you can easily reliquify it in a warm bath or sunny window.
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How do I get started beekeeping?
We recommend our classes, our shadowing program and joining the mentorship program. Here is a good list of resources to help you get started from the Houston Beekeepers Association.
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How much space do I need
You'll need ~3'x3' space for a single hive. Preferably, you'll want to start with two hives. It doesn't even need to be in a yard. We love balconies and rooftop hives too. We will visit your property to decide the best location for the hive(s).
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What if I don't have any flowers?
Not necessary! We do call beekeeping "next level gardening," and would like everyone to plant flowers, but not all of us do. Bees travel in a three mile radius around the beehive and in an urban environment have plenty of blossoms to choose from!
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Is beekeeping even legal where I live?
Beekeeping is legal in Houston. It is possible that your local HOA has restrictions, but most are encouraging.
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Will I own the bees, beehives and honey?
The bees and the beehive(s) will be your property. Harvests of honey/wax are split 65% to the hive owner and 35% to the Collective.
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How much does beekeeping cost?
Bee2Bee will charge a monthly maintenance fee as well as a fee for the hive and bee colony. The monthly fee is dependent on your location, number of hives and beekeeping goals. Please contact us for a quote.
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Is beekeeping dangerous? What if someone gets stung/is allergic?
It is always important to keep safety in mind when having beehive(s) on your property. Each property will require to have an Epi-pen (both adult and child dosage).
*A very small percentage (less than 1%) of the population has a life-threatening allergy. Bees will generally not be flying around the property, most will be flying overhead.
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Can I learn beekeeping?
Yes! The goal of the be a keeper program is to guide you through the first honey harvest and give you the option to take over hive maintenance at that time. Bee2Bee will continue to be available on a consulting basis.
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What if I move or decide that I no longer would like to keep bees?
Although we would love if all the beehives stayed in the same places forever, we understand that life happens. We can either buy back the beehives or relocate them for a fee. It's something that can be worked out.
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What if my bees die?
It's always a possibility. Depending on the season, we can get you going again with new bees, but if not, we would have to pause services.
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Will I qualify for an agricultural tax exemption?
It's possible, but unfortunately complicated. Harris Country requires that an apiary can qualify for a homestead exemption if 1) it is on no less than 5 acres and no more than 20 acres of land and 2) if it has proof that it has been "agricultural land" for 5 of the last 7 years. A bit of a stretch for most people, especially in the city
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