The Buzzzz? Urban Beekeeping!
The phenomena of urban bee keeping is expanding in NYC and has reached new…. heights! Atop the Jacob Javits Convention Center in the heart of Manhattan is a 6.75 acre greenroof with a honeybee apiary that is 6 months into production of commercially available “Jacob’s Honey”. The homegrown honey is part of a sustainability program above the convention center to reduce energy consumption and transform the rooftop into a wildlife sanctuary, now with bees! Expert bee keeping advice has been provided by nycbeekeeping.org, an organization that trains beekeepers, cultivates bee fans, and hosts meetups (bee-ups?).
Due East in Bryant Park on 42nd street, amidst restaurants, lawn yoga and carousels, you can visit the newly installed beehives, watch the action via the “bee-cam”, or even take beekeeping classes. Out in the boroughs, The Brooklyn Grange is at it again operating multiple rooftop bee farms which turn out tons of honey, wax, propolis (healing compound) and pollen. They also train in bee keeping and will oversee beehive installation and maintenance.
Travel up to the ‘burbs just north of the city and you’ll find a new program in place at Mamaroneck High School in Westchester County which has become the first scholastic based bee keeping program in the country with 3 active hives and 50,000 honeybees. A cross discipline curriculum for students on the bee team includes skill building in science, engineering, mathematics and culinary arts through hands on hive action. Look out for Mamaroneck Hive Honey, coming soon! High School hazmat suits and head gear are a must– look for it on Instagram.
The apple has honey, honey.

market.javitscenter.com/local-beekeeper-tours-our-green-roof/
Brooklyngrangefarm.com/apiary
nycbeekeeping.org
bryantpark.org/programs/beekeeping
The 212 to YOU report compiles culinary trends by NY based Wendy Weinstein Karp
Originally published for the blog of the New School of Cooking, Los Angeles
