SMART Community Review (SCR) Jan/Feb 2014 | Page 31

Airports are also getting into the apiary business.

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport receives about $75 per year to house beehives on 400 square feet of airport property just north of a runway. The abundance of Dutch clover and the lack of pesticides are big draws to both the beekeeper and the bees. And while the revenue for the airport is minimal, "it's a great opportunity for us to assist in a 'green' initiative that's positive for environment and 12/8/13 Sweet! Bees help bottom line at hotels, airports www.cnbc.com/id/101066115/print 2/2

the community," said airport spokesman Jeff Lea, "especially in light of recent reports on bee colony collapse."

Fifty beehives now sit on land owned by Chicago O'Hare International Airport and produce about 1,000 gallons of honey each year. Their honey is used in such beauty products as lip balm, moisturizer and bath lotion that are sold at Hudson News stores and other locations in O'Hare and Midway airports.

"We have grown the business from $5,000 in 2012 to $25,000 so far in 2013," said Hudson Group spokeswoman Laura Samuels, who notes that the all-natural lip balm is an especially good seller.

The apiary program pays minimal rent to the airport, but some revenue from product sales does go

back to the airport via Hudson News.

(Read more: Pittsburgh airportreopening land to bow hunters)

And this summer, 16 honey bee colonies were established on land at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. "We've also raised two groups of local queens and are working with the airport to plan the installation of 50 acres of native wildflower meadows," said Bob Redmond, executive director of The Common Acre, the nonprofit group coordinating the Flight Path project.

The group has already harvested about 250 pounds of honey, sales of which will go toward the costs of the project. Beyond that, he said, "the yields are long-term—healthy local bees, healthy habitat, support of native bee populations, the potential to distribute bees and wildflower seeds around the region, and education and inspiration of tens of thousands of people."

Sweet.

—By Harriet Baskas, Special to CNBC. She is the author of seven books, including "Hidden

Treasures: What Museums Can't or Won't Show You," and the Stuck at the Airport blog. Follow her on Twitter at @hbaskas

© 2013 CNBC.com

URL: http://www.cnbc.com/101066115

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