foodsources
had bylaw restrictions preventing hives in the
city. In 2012 they presented their case to City
Hall, and after years of hard work, in 2015 the
determined duo received word that urban hives
could now reside in Winnipeg’s downtown.
Currently, Chris and Lindsay own
approximately 25 urban hives—and that
number is growing—with each hive housing a
colony of up to 60,000 buzzing bees at the height
of summer. The couple also has a farm near
Gimli from which most of Beeproject honey
is currently harvested. They hope to see that
balance shift so all of the honey produced will
eventually end up being made right here in the
‘Peg.
Honey, of course, is the sweet proof of
success for these entrepreneurs. The liquid gold
harvested from urban hives, though a slightly
lower yield than rural counterparts, is chock
full of flavour. With a gourmand’s selection of
blooms to choose from in the city, urban bees
produce honeys that vary widely in colour and
taste. The different “flowerscapes” of Winnipeg’s
many neighbourhoods translate into honey
coloured by light, herbaceous notes from
Basswood trees, or dark, strong spring varieties
made by pollinating apple blossoms. With a
much greater range of flora for pollination and
less exposure to pesticides than on rural crops,
urban beekeeping has proven to be the most
effective way to raise a happy, healthy honey bee.
For those wanting to connect with nature
but not quite ready to plunge into beekeeping
themselves, Beeproject has begun a program in
which homeowners and businesses within the
dow ntow n area
can house a hive
in a backyard or
on a rooftop. In
a model similar
to that of a CSA
(community supported agriculture),
the new hive owner
pays up front for the
hive and then keeps
a portion of the gooey
goodness produced by the bees. In
addition to the honey, garden growers will also
get a better yield on their fruits and vegetables
thanks to the bees’ pollination—up to eight
times as much, in fact.
Downtown businesses are swarming to get
involved, including Manitoba Hydro, The Forks
and Red River College’s Paterson GlobalFoods
Institute, which all house rooftop hives. The
Fairmont Winnipeg and The Park Café have
also installed hives which are maintained by the
Kirouacs, the honey from which will be used in
the kitchens at the café and the VG Restaurant.
Actively participating in stemming the
decline of the bee population is still the
Kirouacs’ primary goal. Without them—and
people like them—the threats facing our busy
bees could lead to their extinction. If a tasty treat
happens to come out of the process as well, that’s
just gravy—or rather, honey.
For a list of Winnipeg retailers