borough in New Jersey

Honey bee forage in Ridgefield, New Jersey

Estimated forage here is better than about 20% of sites in New Jersey. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other New Jersey sites. Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), less than 0.1 mi away.

When is the honey flow in Ridgefield?

  • First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ridgefield, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 23.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid

Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.

Bee crops within flight range

No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.

The land and water around Ridgefield

Mostly: Developed, high intensity (paved); Developed, medium intensity; Open water.

Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0 mi S; open water 0.03 mi SW.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 81% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.

How Ridgefield ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US40th65th44th52nd
New Jersey20th28th24th26th
Northern Piedmont2nd17th8th49th

Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.

The national forage map around Ridgefield: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Fairview 1 mi · Little Ferry 1 mi · Palisades Park 1 mi · Ridgefield Park 2 mi · Cliffside Park 2 mi · Edgewater 2 mi

All towns in New Jersey · National map · How the scoring works

An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Ridgefield (40.8327, -74.0141); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.