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Don't Squeeze the Bees in Howard County |
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On Friday, June 4th, we were informed that the hearing for petition ZRA-117 has been postponed.
We continue to to encourage our supporters to write the county council to tell them you support the Howard County beekeepers and the honey bees.
Photo: A second grader assists a backyard beekeeper from Columbia install honey bees in their new home. (click to enlarge)
At the heart of the issue is a ruling by the DPZ that interprets beehives to be considered "animal shelters" in laws used to regulate shelters for cows and other farm animals. Because of the large set-back requirements for animal shelters, this interpretation prevents the overwhelming majority of beekeepers in Howard County from keeping bees, where the average beekeeper manages only a few colonies in their backyard. These lone backyard beekeeper are often considered the backbone of beekeeping, yet this zoning interpretation is forcing them to either discontinue this time honored activity or be in violation of the zoning law.
This couldn't be happening at a worse time for the honey bees. In recent years, honey bees have been mysteriously declining due to a condition called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). As researchers are scrambling to identify the cause of CCD and its remedy, it has been estimated that we have already lost 30% of all the colonies in the United States since 2006 from this deadly condition. Although CCD seems to be devastating commerical operations, bees managed by backyard beekeepers have largely escaped the dark cloud of CCD. At a time when our region should be encouraging participation in beekeeping, Howard County zoning laws are throwing up roadblocks.
The Howard County Beekeepers are doing their part by teaching about the importance of honey bees and beekeepers, being visible at events in the county, and increasing visibility to the issue through our website and our bumper sticker campaign. But we still need your help! We need you to get involved by writing your county councilperson about the importance of this issue, and by spreading the word by joining our bumper sticker campaign and following us on Facebook and Twitter.
How can you get involved?» Bee a fan on our Facebook page
» Join our bumper sticker campaign
» Want to become a beekeeper? Learn how!
POSTPONED! On Friday, June 4th, we were informed that the hearing for petition ZRA-117 has been postponed.
Petition ZRA-117 is a petition to amend zoning laws to ease setbacks for beekeepers in the county. You can read more about why this zoning amendment is necessary by reading about the problem with the zoning law.
We continue to to encourage our supporters to write the county council to tell them you support the Howard County beekeepers and the honey bees. You can use our website to identify the county council person represents your district. In your message, please indicate where you live and why you feel honey bees are important.
Show your suppport for Howard County honey bees and their beekeepers by placing a Don't Squeeze the Bees bumper sticker on your vehicle. Let's show the County Council that Howard County residents are serious about protecting our bees.