At Clearwater Community Gardens, our apiary is a unique feature of how we cultivate a vibrant, sustainable spaces for pollinators, gardeners, and community members alike. Located at the back corner of our gardens, our honey bee hives are always a hub of activity.
Since the gardens opened in 2014, our apiary has been a cornerstone of sustainability. Our skilled Bee Team maintains the hives who pollinate not only our gardener’s plots, but plants within a three‑mile radius. By supporting local bee populations, our gardens amplify ecological health—for insects, plants, and people alike.
Environmental Impact & Pollinator Stewardship
Honey bees are essential pollinators. They support biodiversity and garden health while greatly improving yields of seasonal produce and flowering plants. By nurturing these colonies, Clearwater Community Gardens commits to ecological stewardship in every season.
Harvest & Products
Periodically, usually once or twice per year, our apiary yields local honey that reflects Clearwater’s seasonally shifting blooms—from citrus and floral sweet spring varieties, to rich herbaceous mid‑summer blends. Harvesting is done carefully and humanely: members extract frames under hygienic conditions, take only surplus honey, and return frames to bees for replenishment. The resulting honey is jarred and offered to members and and at community events to help support the funding of Gardens operations.
How You Can Get Involved
- Join the Bee Team – Want to get involved with our bees? Inquire about becoming a Workshare member to join the Bee Team. This small volunteer group helps with hive inspections, seasonal care, and honey extraction. Some experience is recommended.
- Attend a Workshop or Event – Toni and Chris, two of our most experienced Bee Team members often post local beekeeper events and educational information for aspiring bee enthusiasts. Visit our Facebook group to learn more and stay informed about upcoming events in the local bee community.
Why Our Apiary Matters
- Pollinator Preservation – By providing safe, managed hives in an urban greenspace, we help sustain honey bee colonies and support broader pollinator health in Clearwater’s urban ecosystem.
- Garden Complementarity – The bees power increased flowering, seed set, and fruit production across our shared growing spaces from herbs to vegetables and flowering perennials.
- Local Honey – Our honey is a seasonal reflection of our Gardens. It’s pure, local, and community-shared.
Whether you’re interested in environmental education, sustainable agriculture, or simply supporting pollinators and your local ecosystem, our apiary is a unique and much loved feature of the Clearwater Community Gardens. Come see the hives in action, taste the local honey, and learn how these extraordinary insects are weaving life and abundance into our urban landscape, right here in Clearwater.