bee_hives

The Evanston Ecology Center recently added four hives, each containing about 10,000 bees, to its apiary located just west of McCormick Boulevard and south of Bridge Street.

The apiary allows the center’s staff to provide educational programming about bees as well as to educate community members about threats to the honey bee population and what they can do to help.

And the bees need all the help that they can get, as their population has declined steadily in recent years due to pesticides, disease, and other factors.

Ecology Center officials contend that the apiary will benefit Evanston gardens as well, as honey bees provide critical pollination for many native plants and crops.

Excess honey collected by the bees will be harvested by Ecology Center staff in the coming years, although the first harvest is not expected until at least the second year of the program.

Charles Bartling

A resident of Evanston since 1975, Chuck Bartling holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and has extensive experience as a reporter and editor for daily newspapers, radio...

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2 Comments

  1. About time!

    Been hoping for this for a long time. The Community Gardens and surrounding area should benefit.

  2. Good Idea

    Why not place Honey Bee Hives throughout the City. Why not spread the good.

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