Frequently asked questions about the bee project have included:
Who will take care of the bees?
High Point residents and members of the High Point Neighborhood Association (HPNA) Beekeeping Committee will be responsible for maintaining the bees. The Puget Sound Beekeepers Association has also agreed to serve as an advisory affiliate when needed, and to help with public demonstrations with the bees.
Where will the funding come from?
The grant from the Department of Neighborhoods will fund half of the cost of the P-Patch expansion and additional structures. To qualify for the grant, significant support (via time, materials, skills and cash) was been pledged by local residents throughout the city (primarily West Seattle!). The High Point Neighborhood Association has also agreed to give modest annual funds to the HPNA Beekeeping Committee to cover the cost of maintaining the beehives.
Who will host the demonstrations?
PSBA is interested in scheduling educational demonstrations with the bees at the High Point Apiary. Both PSBA and members of the HPNA Beekeeping Committee will also be available to host demonstrations for a certain number of school field trips.
How will the High Point Community benefit from having a beehive enclosure?
The beehive enclosure will provide educational opportunities for residents of High Point:
- Everyone within the High Point Community will have access to the garden and will be welcome to come learn about bees at any time (by reading signs and observing the hives).
- High Point residents can attend all scheduled public demonstrations of the bees.
- West Seattle Elementary School (next to High Point) has voiced strong support and interest in getting involved. Their school counselor helped to write the grant. West Seattle Elementary has an after school mosaic program which has already begun constructing a mosaic to be displayed within the space.
- Helping the bees (and helping people learn about bees) is good for the environment and our food supply.
- The honeybee population is declining, and needs our help
- Honeybees pollinate 30% of all the food we eat and 80% of all fruits and vegetables
- By hosting bees in High Point and educating residents about bees, High Point can continue its support for environmental stewardship.
West Seattle loves bees!
The idea for this project was posted on the West Seattle blog in early May and has received significant support from West Seattle schools, organizations, local companies and residents. Keeping bees will be a great way for High Point to host a well supported project and get to know our West Seattle neighbors.
Is it safe?
High Point has taken every precaution to ensure that the addition of beehives in the Commons Park P-Patch will be safe. This includes following safety standards set by King County, Seattle and the P-Patch Program. Beehives have existed for years in P-Patches throughout Seattle without causing any significant harm. Since we do plan to invite large groups to come see the bees, High Point is planning to incorporate safety precautions that exceed those already in place in some of the other Seattle P-Patch locations.
By increasing pedestrian traffic in Commons Park, the bee project could actually improve safety in our neighborhood and would so decrease illegal activities.
What safety precautions are you taking?
The beehives will be locked in an eight foot tall beehive enclosure (with an open roof). This heightens the flight path of the bees and helps to minimize human/bee interaction. The enclosure also prevents vandalism or unruly behavior towards the hives which could be unsafe - bees do sting when they feel their hive is threatened. In return, the enclosure also protects the safety of the bees. Only beekeepers approved by the HPNA Beekeeping Committee will be allowed to work with the beehives.
I saw a bee on a flower. Will it sting me?
Almost never. Why? Because bees generally sting only to protect the hive. Bees are normally not next to the hive while foraging for nectar, so the protection instinct is not present. All honey bees are usually gentle while foraging.
What if I have an allergy to bees?
Any person with an allergy to bee venom who is stung by a bee should call 911. Anyone with a bee allergy should have access to an Epi-Pen, and this should be used if they are stung by a bee. A First Aid Kit will be on site at the beehive enclosure and will contain instructions on steps to take if a bee sting occurs.
Does this mean that there are going to be significantly more bees in my neighborhood?
Not necessarily. Bees forage for nectar within a two mile radius of their hive. There are already many beehives within a two mile radius of High Point.
Please support the bee project and contact us!
Who will take care of the bees?
High Point residents and members of the High Point Neighborhood Association (HPNA) Beekeeping Committee will be responsible for maintaining the bees. The Puget Sound Beekeepers Association has also agreed to serve as an advisory affiliate when needed, and to help with public demonstrations with the bees.
Where will the funding come from?
The grant from the Department of Neighborhoods will fund half of the cost of the P-Patch expansion and additional structures. To qualify for the grant, significant support (via time, materials, skills and cash) was been pledged by local residents throughout the city (primarily West Seattle!). The High Point Neighborhood Association has also agreed to give modest annual funds to the HPNA Beekeeping Committee to cover the cost of maintaining the beehives.
Who will host the demonstrations?
PSBA is interested in scheduling educational demonstrations with the bees at the High Point Apiary. Both PSBA and members of the HPNA Beekeeping Committee will also be available to host demonstrations for a certain number of school field trips.
How will the High Point Community benefit from having a beehive enclosure?
The beehive enclosure will provide educational opportunities for residents of High Point:
- Everyone within the High Point Community will have access to the garden and will be welcome to come learn about bees at any time (by reading signs and observing the hives).
- High Point residents can attend all scheduled public demonstrations of the bees.
- West Seattle Elementary School (next to High Point) has voiced strong support and interest in getting involved. Their school counselor helped to write the grant. West Seattle Elementary has an after school mosaic program which has already begun constructing a mosaic to be displayed within the space.
- Helping the bees (and helping people learn about bees) is good for the environment and our food supply.
- The honeybee population is declining, and needs our help
- Honeybees pollinate 30% of all the food we eat and 80% of all fruits and vegetables
- By hosting bees in High Point and educating residents about bees, High Point can continue its support for environmental stewardship.
West Seattle loves bees!
The idea for this project was posted on the West Seattle blog in early May and has received significant support from West Seattle schools, organizations, local companies and residents. Keeping bees will be a great way for High Point to host a well supported project and get to know our West Seattle neighbors.
Is it safe?
High Point has taken every precaution to ensure that the addition of beehives in the Commons Park P-Patch will be safe. This includes following safety standards set by King County, Seattle and the P-Patch Program. Beehives have existed for years in P-Patches throughout Seattle without causing any significant harm. Since we do plan to invite large groups to come see the bees, High Point is planning to incorporate safety precautions that exceed those already in place in some of the other Seattle P-Patch locations.
By increasing pedestrian traffic in Commons Park, the bee project could actually improve safety in our neighborhood and would so decrease illegal activities.
What safety precautions are you taking?
The beehives will be locked in an eight foot tall beehive enclosure (with an open roof). This heightens the flight path of the bees and helps to minimize human/bee interaction. The enclosure also prevents vandalism or unruly behavior towards the hives which could be unsafe - bees do sting when they feel their hive is threatened. In return, the enclosure also protects the safety of the bees. Only beekeepers approved by the HPNA Beekeeping Committee will be allowed to work with the beehives.
I saw a bee on a flower. Will it sting me?
Almost never. Why? Because bees generally sting only to protect the hive. Bees are normally not next to the hive while foraging for nectar, so the protection instinct is not present. All honey bees are usually gentle while foraging.
What if I have an allergy to bees?
Any person with an allergy to bee venom who is stung by a bee should call 911. Anyone with a bee allergy should have access to an Epi-Pen, and this should be used if they are stung by a bee. A First Aid Kit will be on site at the beehive enclosure and will contain instructions on steps to take if a bee sting occurs.
Does this mean that there are going to be significantly more bees in my neighborhood?
Not necessarily. Bees forage for nectar within a two mile radius of their hive. There are already many beehives within a two mile radius of High Point.
Please support the bee project and contact us!