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A blog by Rogers Park beekeeper Liam T.A. Ford, about keeping bees and living in Chicago. (Mostly about keeeping bees.)

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7 Responses

on August 27, 2009 at 1:22 am | Reply Roth Conrad

I think you are awesome! Thank you for doing what you are doing.

Sincerely,

Roth Conrad.
on October 5, 2009 at 11:14 pm | Reply Alejandra Arce

Is it possible to visit your rooftop beehives while you are inspecting them? When would be the best time to do this?
I am a volunteer beekeeper at the Garfield Park Conservatory and I have been hoping to talk to you, but you are very hard to reach!
on November 11, 2009 at 1:45 pm | Reply Ali

Hi Liam,
I’m a reporter from Northwestern University and I am currently doing a project on the Edgewater Environmental Plan 2010 and would love to talk to you about Uncommon Ground’s role in that, specifically relating to the rooftop garden and beekeeping. If you could email me back to set up a time to chat, that would be great!

Thank you,
Ali Pechman
on December 16, 2009 at 10:59 am | Reply Lynn Berry

I am hoping you might be able to offer some assistance. I am doing some research on Eco Friendly Restaurants for an upcoming story in Food Network Magazine. I came across your blog and your photos of Uncommon Ground. I was wondering if you would be able to send through some photos that you have shot at Uncommon Ground that we could take in to consideration for our story, our focus on the location is their cultivation and usage of the bees/honey on their roof top garden but we would be happy to see anything you have to send through! I am working on a tight deadline, any information as soon as possible would be wonderful, if it is easier for you I’d love to have you send through some low res for me to show to my editor today. Please let me know if you have any questions

Thanks in advance for your help
Best
Lynn
–
Lynn Berry
Associate Photo Editor
Food Network Magazine
1700 Broadway – 30th Floor
New York, NY 10019
T: 212-484-1471
on July 17, 2010 at 8:54 am | Reply Gina Lettiere

Hi Liam.

I am only into beekeeping for a year now and this summer thus far has been an intriguing experience.

Long story short – I experienced somewhat of a roller coaster ride in terms of not knowing for sure if my hive had a swarm.
- my inability to see eggs
- and always not finding the queen but observed worker bee behavior and brood pattern.

I did have a swarm in early June and waited for the new queen to get into her groove.

Over time and as of July 6, I did not see brood and again, hard for me to see eggs. So I ordered a queen and she arrived on Thursday, July 1

I checked the hive prior to introducing her — brood in my hive! Seeing eggs is the most challenging for me and finding the existing queen. But the worker bees always very calm, easy going.

So now I have an extra queen in need of a home. I do not have equipment to start a new colony.

Are you interested in taking on a queen and building another hive? Do you know of anyone that might be interested in such?

I ordered her from Full Bloom Apiary in CT.

Thank you for your time.

Gina

Nonetheles, I have an extra queen that I am not sure what to do with. I thought I would put it out there . . .
ewhat of a roller coaster ride for me.
on December 11, 2010 at 11:25 pm | Reply eric

My son who is 16 is totally preoccupied by learning how to keep bees. we live in Wilmette. can you direct us to experts and resources in our area to help make this an exciting experience
on April 13, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Reply Alex Zalewski

Hi,

I work at the Craftsman Experience in River North. This is called a social media studio because we do four live DIY shows a week on Facebook. On April 30th, we’re doing an all-inclusive Bee event. The main focus will be building a bee hive, but we’re also going to have an extractor in the studio to show how honey is taken out of combs. We’re also planning on having groups that make soap and candles from beeswax, but I’m still looking to solidify talent for these aspects.

If you think your constituents would be interested in this event, please let me know and I’ll give you more details. Also, if you think that you know someone who might be able to help in the candle or soap aspect, I would love to be put in contact with them. You can reach me via email or on my cell phone at (513)502-2268.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!