Here’s the letter I left my neighbors last night regarding my upcoming insect invasion:
Dearest neighbor!
I’m thinking of inviting 10,000 of the world’s best pollinators to live in my backyard this summer. They’re quiet, docile, and oh, did I mention they produce honey?
I’d like to start a beehive. But before I do, let’s talk.
Do you have questions or concerns about bees? Is there anything you want to alert me to before I start a hive?
Of course, you’re always welcome to come and see them. In the meantime, here’s some information about how it all works.
Here’s the kind of hive I’m using:
[Rendering by Top Bar Bees]
Here’s the process of caring for the bees:
- Look at them.
- Provide water.
- Once a week or so, check on them.
And that’s it! There’s no unsightly or noisy equipment. There’s no cages or chemicals.
Every now and then you may see me with a smoker, which looks like this:
I’ll use it to add woodsmoke to the hive before I open it. Woodsmoke makes the bees docile enough that I can handle their combs with bare hands.
Once a year in the Fall, I’ll harvest some honey. Not much, since I’ll only have 1 hive, but here’s hoping there’s enough to share 😉
Questions? Concerns? I’d love to talk with you about honeybees.
Mistress Beek
mistress beek 
What response did you get from the neighbors? I admit that fear of the neighbor reaction is my biggest impediment to keeping bees (or chickens).
You know, my neighbors have been incredibly supportive. It’s a learning experience for all of us, but they’ve been open-minded and even appreciative. It helps to invite them over to see the hives so as to quell any fears or misconceptions.