Amy Middleton Loves New York

I don’t know what it is about me and bees. Maybe it’s my love for bulk honey, that short film I made, or the time the bees took over my parents’ house. But I’m in love with the idea of beekeeping.

Did you know that beekeeping is illegal in New York City? Not that I would have a hive here anyway, since it’s also illegal to go on my apartment roof, and I don’t need another misdemeanor. But local honey is awesome, and bees keep urban gardens pollinated. To help keep NYC beekeepers on the right side of the law, please sign this: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/legalize-beekeeping.html.

Also, in case you live somewhere that beekeeping is legal, here is a beekeeping planner. I don’t know if this info is accurate, but it looks rather excellent.

Learning about solar energy stresses me out a little bit. Here’s why:

• I have no concept of science, kilowatt hours, panel conductors… it all seems so high-tech and beyond my comprehension levels.
• I spend about $30 a month on utilities. I don’t know how much energy I use, only how much I spend. So when I hear things like, “this system is only $6,000, and will save your family $15,000 in energy costs…” it means nothing to me. And $6,000 sounds like a lot.
• I am very reliant on the precision of heating utilities. I trust that when I turn the knob to 375, the temperature inside the oven is 375 degrees. If I can’t create an adequate “warm” temperature in the shower–if there’s no hot water or if it’s too hot–I get cranky. For as efficient a heater as the sun surely is, I don’t like the idea of putting dinner in a reflective cardboard box and hoping there’s enough sunlight to warm it up.

Those are my obstacles, but I do want to overcome them. Honest. I’ve been looking around today at different solar powered systems and products. I don’t even know where to start for this one. But Build It Solar is my favorite resource so far for different projects and ideas.