Neighbor cooperation?

Best topics/conversations for having with neighbors if you want to have bees and you think they might be resistant? Thanks!

I would be surprised if they would complain.
Because its not as if they are a rare thing.
But, offering them a jar from time to time smooths rough water!

I have kept bees for 45 years.
About 20 years ago I bought some in on a truck late at night, using a different road.
Evenings are the best time to move them.

My neighbours either saw or heard what was going on and for months I had complaints.
Nothing was different from any other time.
I was blamed for dirty washing, kids being stung etc.
Even 20 L of honey would not have solved it.
So I waited until the male of the property was home by himself, I knew him well, and I went over with a couple of beers to chat.
Obviously the issue of bees came up and I asked how he thought I could sort things out.
He was not concerned about them and knew I had had them for years.
So we agreed to do nothing, and eventually the complaining stopped and never started again.

I think he just did not get involved in back chatter about them.

I'm considering asking a local beekeeper if he'd be interested in putting a hive/gives on our property (5+ acres). Any thoughts?

Maggie

Yes, keep communication open with your neighbor.  It can help in both directions.  My neighbor has crop dusting done in the spring. He now tells me in advance the day and time it will be done.  

Mar Sal wrote:I'm considering asking a local beekeeper if he'd be interested in putting a hive/gives on our property (5+ acres). Any thoughts?

Maggie

I think its a great idea and a lot of beekeepers may be happy to do it.

My parents live on 5 acre estates and man, their neighbor is a mess. At this point I keep joking with my Mom that she owns bees without benefits. The neighbor with the hives doesn't have anything flowering at all. They don't even put out water. My growy Mom has vast flower gardens and bird baths out though. She's got the neighbors bees in mass. Who knows where they would go for water if not for my mothers bird baths.

So I guess I'd say, don't be that bee keeping neighbor! Or at least give some honey over man.

I just informed my neighbors I'd bought bees and asked them to let me know if they ever saw a swarm in their trees and I'd come retrieve them. It helps that I already have a nice relationship with the neighbors.

On the flip side of this, I have a neighbor who alerts me every spring when he has crop dusting done.