"Santa Rosa 9-year-old Nicholas Bard is a walking encyclopedia of honeybee facts. A colony needs 30 to 60 pounds of honey to survive each winter. The average lifespan of bees is about two weeks. And individuals hold distinct jobs, from cleaners to foragers, during their life cycle. Nicholas knows how much bees contribute to California's agricultural economy and the alarming rate at which the population is declining."
"But earlier this year, the Bard family was hit with a surprising notice that threatened to bring the whole thing to a halt. Santa Rosa code enforcement officers in an April 16 complaint accused the family of operating a beekeeping business against city residential regulations and ordered them to remove the hive. We thought it was a mistake, dad Zach Bard said. The bees aren't some sort of side hustle for the family."
Nine-year-old Nicholas Bard has developed detailed knowledge of honeybees while raising a colony in his family's Proctor Terrace backyard for three years. The colony management includes ensuring 30 to 60 pounds of honey for winter survival and understanding workers' roles and short lifespans. Nicholas recognizes bees' contributions to California agriculture and the decline in bee populations. In April, Santa Rosa code enforcement filed a complaint alleging the family operated a commercial beekeeping business, ordering removal of the hive. The family says the bees are part of a 4-H youth program and not a business, triggering a months-long dispute with city planners.
Read at www.pressdemocrat.com
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