The bees of Hayes Valley Farm have had it rough. In 2010, the first colonies to settle in at the urban farm were slaughtered by a malicious neighbor. Early this year, Karen Peteros of SF Bee-Cause and her crew installed new hives — triple the number of the last bunch — and began teaching some of the only hands-on beekeeping classes in the city. But the parcel of land that houses the hives is now going to be developed, so the bees must move again — this time, off the farm.
Before being evicted, the bees have given SF Bee-Cause a good harvest of honey, Peteros reports. On Sunday, December 18, from noon to 4 p.m., the nonprofit will be at the farm (Laguna beween Oak and Fell), selling its first and last batch of Hayes Valley honey. The price is $10 for a half-pound jar — a little pricier than at a farmers market, perhaps, but the sale is a fundraiser for the organization's future plans. Those of you who live in Hayes Valley should know: It's also some of the only ultra-local honey you'll be able to buy.
And those plans? “We are currently seeking a new site, on private or public land, where we can have approx 10 colonies and give classes,” Peteros writes. If you have a more permanent spot where the hives can park, contact her through the SF Bee-Case website.