Honey

Bees are responsible for pollinating one third of the food crops we humans eat and their humble contribution to biodiversity is absolutely vital for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Sadly however, the bees are facing a multitude of problems that have sent their populations to a worrying decline, and while this is bad news for the bees it‘s pretty terrifying for us humans too.

As property owners seek ways to enhance sustainability, rooftops become key areas of focus. While extensive rooftop gardens may require structural adjustments, installing beehives offers a simple and cost-effective initial step towards a more biodiverse built environment.

In Finland, Aapo Reuter operates the HumbleBee Housing Project, offering beekeeping services to companies with underutilized spaces such as empty rooftops. He installs beehives at the beginning of summer, tends to them throughout the season, and harvests honey in autumn.

With the help of the honeybees the project has recently begun collecting flower pollen samples for analysis of environmental DNA, providing insights into local plant biodiversity. This knowledge informs planting recommendations for pollinator-friendly plants that may be lacking in the area. The samples collected by the bees are analyzed at a partner laboratory, Apilab, whose scientist use the data in their research to better understand urban biodiversity and the interactions between plants and pollinators.

This way the bees become crucial contributors in the search for solutions to the problems they are facing.

“Honey” is a deeply personal, long-term documentary project. I’ve been following Aapo Reuter’s work since 2021. Tracking Aapo’s journey with the Humblebee Housing Project over the years offers invaluable insights into the evolution of urban beekeeping and its profound impact on local ecosystems and communities.