May 29, 2009—In New York City, where beekeeping is illegal due to health concerns, bee lovers often put hives on rooftops to avoid detection. Video.

© 2009 National Geographic (AP)

Unedited Transcript

Keeping bees in New York City is illegal, so for years beekeepers have flown below the radar of the health code. They keep their hives on roof tops or in community gardens.

If a neighbor makes a complaint, the owners must disassemble their hives or face steep fines and exterminator fees. Flouting the law seems to have not dissuaded these would be beekeepers.

Beekeeping classes in New York City were brimming with students this spring, partly because of publicity after a city council bill was introduced to legalize beekeeping.

On one Sunday in April the student beekeepers gathered for a live demonstration of hiving.

Afterwards they got two boxes; one with about 20,000 live bees, and another smaller one with the queen bee inside. One of those new recruits, who didn't want her full name used because she fears prosecution, is Kelly. She hived her bees in Brooklyn.

Kelly is allergic to bees. She didn't know this until she was stung and it swelled to a quite large size. Her allergist told her if she gets stung again it could be fatal.

SOUNDBITE: (English): Kelly, novice beekeeper: "To me it's more than a hobby, it's my passion. You know I'd rather die being happy and do something I love than not do it. It's a risk I'm taking but I don't really think I'll die, hopefully."

For protection Kelly wears a bee suit, thick gloves and tapes her trouser legs shut whenever she checks on her bees.

SOUNDBITE: (English): Kelly, novice beekeeper: "I really think about the allergy more when I'm suiting up than when I'm actually with the bees. I'm not afraid when I'm with the bees. I just try to be smart about it."

Kelly had no stings after her first hiving.

SOUNDBITE: (English): Kelly, novice beekeeper: "This is my first time inserting all the bees into the hive. It's really exciting. Hopefully they like their new home."

Newbie Brooklyn beekeeper, Megan Paska wasn't so lucky.

Hiving is a little bit of a rough process.

It involves little more than dumping bees from a carrier cage into their new hive then carefully placing the queen inside and putting a lid on top.

But, it must be done quickly and carefully to avoid riling up the bees.

It's Paska's first attempt and she's been stung.

Megan Paska UPSOUND: (English): "I got the tiniest little sting in my finger. I got my first sting. I already got the stinger out. It didn't really hurt though, so that's good." Shes just hanging on my zipper. Its probably a little warmer on my jacket than anywhere else.

Paska says people don't recognize the merits of honey bees.

SOUNDBITE: (English): Megan Paska, novice beekeeper: "Well you know I just think there are a lot of people who just don't entirely understand honey bees. They don't see the difference between a honey bee or a yellow jacket and a wasp. They see them as temperamental and pests. I think if people just understand that they are more beneficial than a nuisance then I think that might change it. I think that might change it. I think it's a shame there are laws against it."

For now the bee keeping bill remains under consideration.

The New York City health department maintains that bees are a threat due to the possibility of swarming and that stings for some can be fatal.