Fourth-generation beekeeper Andrew Coté keeps hives in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, and drives his truck from stop to stop, bees hovering over the truckbed, trying to reclaim the stolen honey.

Fourth-generation beekeeper Andrew Coté keeps hives in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, and drives his truck from stop to stop, bees hovering over the truckbed, trying to reclaim the stolen honey.

read more

Andrew enters a building in Manhattan where he has rooftop hives. A main challenge of his business plan—keeping 40 hives on rooftops and gardens—is gaining access to buildings and garden gates.

Andrew enters a building in Manhattan where he has rooftop hives. A main challenge of his business plan—keeping 40 hives on rooftops and gardens—is gaining access to buildings and garden gates.

read more

Andrew and his assistant examine one of the rooftop hives on 2nd Avenue. A hive consists of boxes of frames, kind of like a filing cabinet full of files. The bees build wax onto each frame and fill it with nectar they gather from street trees, garden, park and windowbox flowers, and also add a preservative enzyme. They cap each cell with wax, and the substance becomes honey.

Andrew and his assistant examine one of the rooftop hives on 2nd Avenue. A hive consists of boxes of frames, kind of like a filing cabinet full of files. The bees build wax onto each frame and fill it with nectar they gather from street trees, garden, park and windowbox flowers, and also add a preservative enzyme. They cap each cell with wax, and the substance becomes honey.

read more

The bees become more agitated as the hive inspection goes on, and Andrew is concerned they will sting his assistant, Kimberly White, through her clothes.

The bees become more agitated as the hive inspection goes on, and Andrew is concerned they will sting his assistant, Kimberly White, through her clothes.

read more

Andrew and his assistant Cecilia Lee open up a hive on the roof of the Bridge Café, in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. Cecilia did not follow Andrew’s instructions to wear long, loose clothing, so mostly today she does ancillary tasks like buying extra garbage bags for the frames full of honey.

Andrew and his assistant Cecilia Lee open up a hive on the roof of the Bridge Café, in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. Cecilia did not follow Andrew’s instructions to wear long, loose clothing, so mostly today she does ancillary tasks like buying extra garbage bags for the frames full of honey.

read more

Andrew working on a hive.

Andrew working on a hive.

read more