The buzz about urban beekeeping at Magrath Campus

For many, honey is a morning staple, whether drizzled on toast or mixed into tea. But beyond our love for its sweetness, honey supports the natural development and sustainability of bee colonies. Enessa Habib, our resident beekeeper at Magrath Campus and Project Manager at YEG Honeycomb, offered her perspective on the intricacies of urban beekeeping and its implications on our local community.

Traditional beekeeping primarily focuses on rural areas with expansive monocultures. But the spotlight is now on urban beekeeping, a practice rooted in recognizing that cities, with their diverse flora, can provide a more resilient habitat for bees. But this isn’t just about placing hives on city rooftops; it’s about “purposeful placement, education, and a commitment to sustainability,” says Enessa.

Enessa is very select about her beekeeping locations, and such choices aren’t random. “Locations like the Magrath Campus offer historical significance and a connection to the community. It’s about making sure that these areas can provide the bees with native flora to pollinate, supporting local ecosystems in the process.” says Enessa. “By situating bee colonies in diverse locations, there’s a mutual benefit: the bees support the environment, while their health reflects the state of the environment around them,” she adds.

Misconceptions about beekeeping abound. “Many view beekeeping through a narrow lens: bees equal pollinators, which in turn equals sustainability. However, the reality is intricate. It’s about how hives support each other, why certain practices might pose threats to honeybee health, and how commercial beekeeping contrasts with these new urban approaches,” Enessa explains.

“Beekeeping isn’t solely about honey production. We prioritize the health and natural well-being of the bees, which means we sell a limited supply of honeycomb, however our primary focus is to maintain the health of the colonies and provide educational experiences,” says Enessa.

Workshops and hands-on experiences will be held at Magrath Campus to bridge the knowledge gap and foster a greater appreciation for these vital pollinators. There will be opportunities for students and the public to understand and appreciate the intricacies of bee behaviors and the role of beekeepers.

Like any project, challenges are inevitable. Due to its proximity to a golf course, Magrath Campus faces the looming threat of pesticides. “Pesticides can lead to colony collapse, a major concern for beekeepers. To combat this, we introduced a clean water source, placed strategically next to the hive. This ensures that bees, instead of seeking water from possibly contaminated sources, have a safer alternative nearby,” Enessa mentions.

She also explains that treating flowers with harmful substances like neonicotinoids is lethal to pollinators. “It’s crucial that Magrath Campus’s landscaping plays a role in ensuring the health of bee colonies,” she says.

Enessa’s bee project focuses on naturally managing smaller bee colonies, prioritizing their well-being over honey production. “This approach involves splitting colonies to reduce the mite count which are detrimental to the bees without relying on toxic miticides. As a result, these smaller colonies produce just enough honey for their survival, in contrast to commercial beekeepers who prioritize larger colonies and use miticides to maximize honey production for human consumption,” Enessa explains.

The project at Magrath Campus is only in its infancy, but the hope is that the hives will serve as a hub for immersive education, allowing students and staff to delve into the intricacies and importance of beekeeping.

The potential for collaborating with institutions like CUE’s Office of Research & Innovation is an exciting prospect. While research is always evolving, the vision is to merge traditional knowledge with modern methodologies. “There could be unique advantages of monitoring bees across diverse locations, as opposed to a singular, controlled environment,” says Enessa.

The presence of YEG Honeycomb at Magrath Campus brings a distinctive charm through the art of beekeeping, but beyond this, we are eager to cultivate an appreciation for the profound role bees play in our ecosystem and emphasize the importance of their preservation for the benefit of future generations.