An effort to legalize residential beekeeping in Santa Ana is underway, on Facebook. Here is what the organizers have to say about their campaign:

Santa Ana is the home of the highest number of community gardens, school gardens, microfarms, and home gardens in the whole county. We need bees to help in the pollination of these gardens but are currently restricted from beekeeping in the city. Help us inspire the City Planning Department to initiate an ordinance that would allow Santa Ana residents (with proper guidance) to raise their own honeybees, a practice that helps boost struggling honeybee populations and ensures local food security.

Fill out this city-developed survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/78RZTWL

Below are sample support emails that you can customize and send to City of Santa Ana staff too:

Send emails to/ Mande el e-mail a: jguevara@santa-ana.org, MiMartinez@santa-ana.org, jsolorio@santa-ana.org, chall@ocfoodaccess.org

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Sample support letter/email – Santa Ana Beekeeping Ordinance
(Organizations please include your logo, or put letter on your letterhead)

Dear Mr. Guevara,

My name is {your name here} from {Neighborhood in Santa Ana} or {Organization Name}. I am writing to urge the City Planning Department to present a residential bee keeping ordinance to the Santa Ana City Council this summer that would allow Santa Ana residents (with proper guidance) to raise their own honeybees.

{choose one or more of the following reasons or add your own},

• Beekeeping is a practice that helps boost struggling honeybee populations and ensures local food security.

• Cities across the the U.S. and Canada, including 12 cities in Orange County, have legalized urban beekeeping in residential and commercial areas as they understand the integral component bees play in our food system.

• Urban beekeeping contributes to greater local food production in our community and home gardens.

• Small businesses also benefit from urban beekeeping…one colony of bees can yield anywhere from 30 to 150 pounds of honey, which has a market value of at least $10-$12 per pound.

Urban beekeeping creates spaces where dwindling bee populations can thrive under proper care. Legalizing residential and commercial beekeeping would benefit families, businesses, and the environment and I support the development of an ordinance to be brought to the city council for a vote this summer.

Thank you,
{Your Name, Neighborhood in Santa Ana or Organization}

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Modelo de Carta de Apoyo – Ordenanza de Apicultura en Santa Ana
(organizaciones, por favor, incluyan su logo o pongan este carta en su membrete)

Estimado Sr. Guevara,
Mi nombre es [su nombre] de [vecindario en Santa Ana o nombre de organización]. Estoy escribiendo a urgir el Departamento de Planificación a presentar una ordenanza de apicultura residencial al ayuntamiento este verano que permitiera residentes de Santa Ana (con consejo apropiado) a cuidar a sus propias abejas.

[Elija uno o más de los siguientes razones o añade su propio.]

– La apicultura urbana es una práctica que ayuda poblaciones de abejas y garantiza la seguridad alimentaria local.

– Ciudades por todo los Estados Unidos y en Canadá, incluyendo 18 ciudades aquí en el condado de Orange, han legalizado la apicultura urbana en zonas residenciales y comerciales porque entienden el función integral de abejas en nuestro sistema alimentario.

– La apicultura urbana mejorara la producción de comida en nuestro comunidad y jardines en casa.

– Negocios pequeños también benefician de la apicultura urbana… una colonia de abejas puede producir hasta 30-150 libras de miel que tiene un valor de mercado al menos de $10-$12 por cada libra.

La apicultura urbana crea espacios donde los poblaciones de abejas pueden prosperar con cuidados adecuados. Legalizando la apicultura residencial y comercial se beneficiaría familias, negocios, y el ambiente y yo apoyo el creación de una ordenanza para traer al Concejo Municipal a votación este verano.

Gracias,
[Su nombre, vecindario en Santa Ana, o nombre de su organización]