The North might not seem like the most hospitable place for honeybees with the long and hard winters, but it hasn't stopped a small group of beekeepers in Yellowknife from getting their buzz on.
Marie Auger, founder of Sweet Ride Honey, and her partner Kyle Thomas have been keeping bees in Yellowknife for nearly three years.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have a short season here,SA国际影视传媒� said Auger. SA国际影视传媒淲e support weeds here because they are fast blooming in the spring and a first food source for bees.SA国际影视传媒�
Usually the couple's honey will start flowing June. They usually kick-start their harvest by feeding their bees sugar water in the spring.
Getting their hives through the wintertime is another challenge, one that Thomas and Auger know well.
The long and harsh winter coupled with a rainy summer resulted in the loss of all their hives last year.
SA国际影视传媒淚 had four hives and they all perished over winter,SA国际影视传媒� said Auger. SA国际影视传媒淢ost of that was my fault because I harvested too much honey, which weakens the hive.SA国际影视传媒�
Bees themselves don't exactly hibernate, a hive will slow down their metabolism to the point where they don't have to eat and stay clustered, constantly vibrating and moving for warmth.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's very similar to what Antarctic penguins do, circling and rotating for warmth,SA国际影视传媒� said Auger.
Matt Vincent, a paramedic and bee enthusiast, is the man Auger credits with kickstarting bee keeping culture in Yellowknife.
Vincent now keeps six hives in his backyard, which he has turned into a bee oasis, full of dandelions, fireweed and clover.
SA国际影视传媒淗aving a lot of beekeepers in town can be a good and bad thing,SA国际影视传媒� said Vincent. SA国际影视传媒淚ntroducing more bees when there isn't necessarily more food would mean weaker hives overall.SA国际影视传媒�
Vincent has been vocal and instrumental about the benefits of planting clover in Yellowknife, something he said he personally brought up with the mayor. Nearby residents do not seem to mind the profusion of bees in the neighbourhood.
SA国际影视传媒淲e did not talk to our neighbours about it, but we've never had a complaint,SA国际影视传媒� said Auger
SA国际影视传媒淭o be honest I'm not even sure they notice unless they hear us talking about it,SA国际影视传媒� said Thomas. SA国际影视传媒淭hey mostly just come up and go out.SA国际影视传媒�
Thomas said they are pretty in tune with their work and don't bother with people.
Currently there are no bylaws or regulations that specify how many bees can be kept in the city.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's good and bad,SA国际影视传媒� said Vincent. SA国际影视传媒淩egulations aren't always a bad thing I'm sure it's coming. I just hope that when they write the bylaws they do it with facts and not just what they think should happen.SA国际影视传媒�
Vincent said he has done some preliminary chats with policy writers as well.
The practice has a lot of positives from promoting the pollination of local plant life and producing honey for the owner but keeping bees is not everyone and requires a lot of research, according to Vincent, who is currently loaning two hives to a group in Trail's End.
SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people have the mindset of 'I'm going to get a beehive to save the bees' but they need to research it,SA国际影视传媒� said Vincent. SA国际影视传媒淓very two weeks I go over and check the hives with them, they're learning and quite keen. There's considerations for cost and maintenance. I remember watching every video I could find on the subject before starting.SA国际影视传媒�
