Beekeeping: Where else can you find thousands of sisters working together in perfect harmony under one roof?
Bee enthusiasts become beekeepers for a variety of reasons, but most admit their unadulterated fascination comes from what bees are capable of doing. New beekeepers also mention the unique aspects of the hobby, its educational assets, and the chance to get back to nature as to reasons they enjoy the hobby. And then there are those who extol the financial virtues of beekeeping. One beehive will usually bring in more honey than one person could possibly use, and it is not hard to imagine all the ways to sell your gorgeous crop of honey. Homegrown, organic honey is a sought-after commodity, but becoming an apiarist, which is the formal name for a beekeeper, is so much more than bee stings, wax, and honey.
For those who take care of bees for pure joy and amusement, you are performing a valuable service to your community — and the world. The simple act of beekeeping keeps diversity in the flora and fauna, insects, soil, and even the herbivorous animals that frequent the area.
The pollination that bees perform is extremely important. Without their hard work, the world would be without many species of plants, fruits, and flowers. Honey bees provide the pollination for more than 80 percent of the fruit, vegetable, and flowering plants in existence. They pollinate crops used to feed cattle and other meat and dairy animals. Honey bees also contribute at least $150 million in honey annually, plus the estimated $50 million in beeswax used in cosmetics, candles, and other products. A Cornell University study estimated that honey bees pollinate more than $14 billion worth of seeds and crops in the United States each year. Some crops are almost singularly dependent on the honey bee for pollination.
Beekeeping is not for everyone; it requires hard work. There are bee boxes (supers) to put together, pests to be monitored and treated, and bees to be fed and managed. Beekeeping is a hot, sweaty, and thoroughly enjoyable hobby, even with the occasional sting or two.
This is a hobby with living creatures — creatures that perform a very important job for our society. Always treat bees with the respect they deserve.
Beekeeping is more than gathering honey. Here you will learn not only what is needed to take care of a colony of productive bees, but also the troublesome areas that all beekeepers face. Disease and infection affect all living creatures, and bees are no exception. The diseases that affect bees are especially troublesome because they impact honey, wax, and all other elements of beekeeping. Disease can wipe out an entire colony and destroy hope for profit. Knowing the prospective diseases is an important part of beekeeping.
Hive life is not without its dramas. Bees have been known to pick up and fly away from their hive. If the colony stays, the queen might disappear, or perhaps another colony might decide they want your honey and may begin robbing it.
There is also a business aspect to beekeeping. Pollination and honey are not the only way bees contribute to human society. Their propolis, wax, larvae, and venom are all important commodities. Each one has its own distinctive characteristic when it comes to marketing and distribution.
So, prepare for an adventure of a lifetime, because beekeeping is life-altering. You will become infatuated with your bees and develop a relationship with them and with nature. It is a learning adventure with an environment like no other.