Ralph (Mike) Rodia, a life time member of the Oregon State Beekeepers Association (OSBA) and the Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association [WVBA], has a PhD in Organic Chemistry, was a research scientist, college educator, occupational health inspector and supervisor (Oregon OSHA), Oregon Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal, and has been active in the OSBA at the regional and state levels for the last 20 years. His experience in the preparation and implementation of laws and rules has allowed him in the past, and now as OSBA’s Agricultural Liaison to interact with governmental agencies at all levels, to foster and advance beekeeping in Oregon, particularly as it relates to residential beekeeping.

Listen in as we talk with Mike Rodia about residential beekeeping and the ways to work with your local government to keep your local hives nuisance-free.

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“Residential beekeeping didn’t really exist 30 or 40 years ago, so the cities have had to address it as problems have come up, so each [city] will vary each time it comes up with a problem.” – Mike Rodia

Show Notes:

• What residential beekeepers need to know about their local laws
• How Mike got started with beekeeping
• What a nuisance standard is, and how it can be used to help
• Why the public misunderstanding of bees versus hornets or yellow jackets can cause such huge issues for residential beekeepers
• What Mike has experienced with unnecessary rules and regulations on residential beekeeping in municipalities and counties
• How Mike circumvented regulations in an Oregon house bill with education instead
• How the committee behind the bill developed the education guidelines
• What Mike recommends for municipalities looking to manage their residential beekeeping issues
• Mike’s advice for residential beekeepers that get cited

“Rules do not make or break problems with beekeeping. They don’t really help anything, they don’t accomplish anything.” – Mike Rodia

Links Mentioned:

• • Find out more at the Oregon Residential Beekeeping Website
  • Check out Mike’s favorite book on pollinators: Hive and the Honey Bee
  • Learn more about Mike’s favorite bees
  • Connect with Mike Rodia through email