The Sweet Benefits to Beekeeping
September 20, 2016
The sweetest benefit of beekeeping is obviously the delicious harvest. What most Southerners don’t realize is the incredible experience and memories it produces as well the fact that it can boost your garden’s production. One of our very own, Heaven, sat down with us to discuss the ins and outs of being a fourth generation bee charmer as well as give us an inside look at how the hive thrives!
“My great grandmother started beekeeping back in the 1920s and its been a family project ever since. I decided to get bees because aside from all of the benefits of raw honey, they are great for pollinating the rest of my crops. Additionally, the honeybee population has drastically decreased in the last ten years due to pesticides and lack of food and its important to nurture the species and keep them around for the future of the planet’s plant life.”
When asked how the entire process within the hive works, Heaven said, “The bee process begins with a new hive and ordering a bee package. You can usually find distributors for bee equipment in your area by contacting your local university. After your bee kit arrives, check to make sure your queen is healthy before releasing the rest into the hive. Make sure to feed them sugar water until they get settled in and have figured out how to feed themselves. You’ll know they are ready to work when they start leaving the sugar water alone. Our honey extraction method is a little different than others’ because we’ve installed mason jars that can be screwed into the hive and they contain combs and honey from past hives. We call them starter jars. They just screw in, and when they are full, we just unscrew them. It’s much less invasive to the hive this way.”
Heaven goes on to explain the different bees that work together in the hive, “There are three different types of bees in the hive. There is one queen. Her two jobs are to lay eggs and preside over the hive. The worker bees are all female and do all of the comb construction, larvae tending, and foraging. Girls rule in the hive. The drones are the males, and their purpose is mainly reproduction and they are the only types of bees in the hive that don’t have stingers.”
If you want to join Heaven in the incredible process of beekeeping, talk to your local beekeeping association on how to get started and check out this accessory starter kit from Williams-Sonoma: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/backyard-beehive-starter-kit/. We’d also love to invite you to add a tailored option onto your stay at The Willcox. For just $50, enjoy our Backyard Honey Bees Experience as you take on a private tour and coaching session with our local expert.
