Rooftops and back gardens in Canadian cities have quietly filled with beehives over the past decade. What once belonged to rural farms is now a familiar urban pastime. Councils in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary have rewritten their bylaws to allow it. Hobbyist clubs now report far more members than they had twenty years ago. The Prairie Beekeepers' Guild, one of the largest, signed up more than a thousand newcomers last season. Close to half of those beginners are women, a clear shift from the male-dominated craft of a generation ago.

Keeping bees, though, asks a great deal of anyone who tries. A single colony needs steady attention right through the warmer months. Every week or two, the hive is opened to check the queen, the brood, and the store of honey. Getting started is not cheap either, since a basic setup of boxes, frames, gear, and the bees can cost several hundred dollars. New keepers are also expected to learn the craft first, often through a season of classes or a mentorship before they manage a hive alone.