Village of Skokie and Oakton Community College Establish a Community Beekeeping Apiary
Applications for Skokie Residents now Available!
Through a unique partnership, the Village of Skokie and Oakton Community College (OCC) have partnered to establish a Community Apiary for beekeeping. The apiary located at OCC’s Skokie campus, 7701 Lincoln Avenue, celebrates beekeeping by providing a communal beekeeping location for Skokie residents who are not able to, or would prefer not to, use their own property for keeping bees.
Skokie residents interested in applying for one of the available Community Apiary permits can click here to learn additional information and find the Community Apiary application. Residents also can contact the Health and Human Services Department at 847/933-8484 with questions and assistance in applying for a permit.
The Community Apiary requires permit holders to show proof of taking an introductory beekeeping class, register their hives with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and maintain their hives with standard best practices. Honeybees are considered docile pollinators, collecting pollen and making honey used to sustain their colonies. Honeybees are responsible for pollinating over 100 food crops and wild plans. For centuries humans have used surplus honey for food and bee wax is valued in the making of candles, soap, lip balms and various cosmetics.