Community Beehive
by Seren Zamore
by Seren Zamore
Building a Honeybee Habitat At Zinsser’s Community Garden
Bloomberg Philanthropies YCAF Microgrant Report
Project Description
Create a honeybee habitat with two hives. Construct a secure, fenced enclosure to ensure safe care for the bees and protect the area. Add clear signage to highlight the purpose of this new space and its role in supporting local bees.
Outputs
Confirmed an ideal location for the hives within Zinsser Garden (southeast side), in consultation with Brooks Ballard and Nicole Higgins.
Defined and roughed out the dimensions of the site (approx. 15’ x 18’).
Excavated and leveled the designated space.
Measured and calculated the number of fence posts required.
Purchased wood, fencing, and hardware (screws, brackets, hinges, padlock) from Home Depot and other local suppliers.
Designed and built a 15’ x 18’ secure and enclosed fenced area with a lockable fence gate.
Installed a weed-suppressing barrier (e.g., Pro-Shield fabric) to prepare the ground.
Laid wood chips, gravel, or stone around the enclosure to suppress weeds and support long-term maintenance, while reserving outside space for pollinator plants.
Constructed two stable hive stands and a work table capable of supporting two beehives.
Leveled and secured the area beneath the hive stands to ensure hive stability.
Created and installed educational signage about honeybees and pollinators.
Scheduled and purchased delivery of honeybee hives for Spring 2026, the optimal season for establishing colonies.
Developed a seasonal care and maintenance plan (organized by Molly Roberts. Seren’s mom), with input from local beekeepers and mentors).
Outcomes
A beautiful, weed free, protected space that will draw interest and attention to the project
As a result of consistent, local pollination by honeybees, we expect increased crop yield and healthier flowering plants throughout the garden.
Biodiversity within the garden will be enhanced, as the bees will support a wide range of species.
Students and community members will gain hands-on educational opportunities in pollinator ecology and habitat stewardship.
Process
1. Determine location
2. Obtain permission
3. Create plans and budget
4. Excavate and level the space
5. Calculate necessary lumber
6. Purchase wood, fencing material and hardware from Home Depot or local suppliers
7. Build a fenced area and lockable gate
8. Apply weed-suppression (Pro-Shield fabric, gravel, wood chips)
9. Construct wooden hive stands to support beehives
10. Create and install educational signage about the role of honeybees and pollinators
11. Purchase and prepare to install the honey bee hives
12. Purchase and order the bees, to be delivered Spring 2026
Lessons Learned
Building outdoors is not easy, and requires good planning, patience and perseverance
Measure twice, cut once
I learned the importance of asking for help, and being gracious and kind for the time others offer
I also learned that others are excited to help you along the way, with their muscle and their knowledge
People in our community are very willing to share their excitement about this bee project. I am not alone in this effort
It's important to stick accept limitation within a set budget, and to plan accordingly
Students Involved
One student Project Leader aged 15-24
Five Total Project Participants (excluding leaders)
One Project Participant aged 15-24 (excluding leaders)
Before view of planned location for the honeybee habitat - photo taken in April 2025
Drawing of fencing dimensions to guide wood purchases, with sample fence designs for reference
Original green stakes marking the designated fence area, with ground leveling begun
Seren, her brother, and her dad installing fence post with a rented auger
Fence posts installed and old wood, trees, and branches cleared
Leveling the posts before attaching the top 2x4 top boards (Seren and her dad)
Top 2x4 and bottom 2x6 boards installed, showing the placement of the habitat within the community garden
Preparing the CNC file to print the wood signage and honeycomb entrance
CNC machine at Seren's mom's work (Pratt Institute), showing how all the signage pieces are arranged on a single 4x8 sheet of ¾" plywood for cutting
Constructed hive stands
Weed-blocking fabric installed prior to covering with wood chips
Fence painted and header above door created
Installing wire fence onto post (Brooks Ballard and Eric - Seren’s dad - are helping)
Cutting and drilling the two hive stands and one table for hive maintenance
Seren holding one of the hive stands in the honeybee habitat
Seren and honeybee signage
Final construction of honeybee fence, hive stands and signage
Thank You’s
I am grateful for the help and support of Mayor Armacost, Village Recreation Leader Nicole Higgins, Dan Higgins (for bee management), Brooks Ballard, Zinsser’s Garden Ambassador, Eric Zamore (Seren’s Dad), Ford Zamore (Seren’s brother), and Molly Roberts (Seren’s Mom), and Bloomberg Philanthropies (for funding).