Backyard beekeeping is emerging as the latest trend in urban areas, in addition to gardening, chickens and rabbits. Why should you raise bees? Bees are essential for the pollination of plants and crops. In recent years there has been an overwhelming disappearance of bees due to colony collapse disorder (CCD). Without bees, we will have fewer crops, leading to higher food prices and food shortages. But as an individual, you can change this, simply by adding a beehive to your backyard. Here are 10 reasons why raising bees is important for our urban backyards:
- Beekeeping can be done by anyone: men, women, seniors, and even children (under adult supervision) can enjoy beekeeping as a hobby that can be turned into a small farming business. The only part of beekeeping that is physically demanding is lifting the honey-filled supers. These are the boxes that contain the frames filled with honey and honeycomb.
- Beekeeping can be done virtually anywhere there are flowering plants, trees, or shrubs. Bees can be kept in cold northern, desert, or humid southern areas. Be sure to contact your local beekeeping group to learn how to raise bees in your area. Hives can be kept both in the city and in the country, just think of the gardens that are kept in the backyards everywhere that can benefit from bees. Be sure to check your city ordinances first before setting up your first hive.
- Unlike cattle, bees do not need to be fed and watered every day. Milking twice a day, hauling hay or stepping on snow to break the ice is not allowed. Bees need supplemental feeding in spring and fall, so you will need to check the food reserves in their hives every few days. During the summer, just check your health once a week and see how the honey production is going. In late summer, remove excess honey from the hive. If you have 1 or 2 hives, you can do it in one day. In winter, there is no work for the beekeeper! Use this time to plan for next year to increase honey production. Read the latest beekeeping news and stay up-to-date on what’s going on in your hobby. Beekeeping can be another part of your farm chores or it can even be done if you have a full-time career.
- Bees benefit you and your neighbors by pollinating plants in gardens, orchards, vineyards, or agricultural crops. Bees increase the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Bees travel up to 3 miles from their hive in search of food sources to benefit everyone in their area. You can also rent beehives to farmers to pollinate your crops.
- Your own honey will taste more delicious than any other you buy. Raw honey from your own hives can be added to a hot cup of tea, drizzled over hot cookies, or used to create moist baked goods. Local raw honey relieves allergy symptoms and makes a wonderful gift for family and friends.
- Bees produce more than honey! Beekeepers have used and enjoyed wax, propolis, and royal jelly for personal use and to add additional products to sell. Make candles with beeswax, they burn cleaner and have a mild, sweet fragrance. Add honey and beeswax to your soap, lotion, and lip balm recipes. Use excess milk from your cows, goats, or sheep to make milk soap and honey to sell.
- Hmmm along with your bees! Working with bees requires you to be calm and have smooth, deliberate movements and concentration. By staying focused, relaxed, and focused on the task at hand, your stress will disappear. You can calm your mind and focus on observing the hive community and listening for the hum.
- The start-up costs are inexpensive, compared to other agricultural ventures. Beginner kits are in the $ 165-450 range and include a beehive, basic tools, smoker, gloves, veiled hat, and an introductory beekeeping book. Bees are purchased as a pack with workers, drones, and a queen.
- Beekeeping is a hobby that can easily turn a profit. It can pay for itself after the first year, as the hive can produce around 100 pounds of leftover honey in a good year. Many beginners start with 2 hives and market value-added products like candles, soaps, lotions, lip balms, or sell wax, pollen, and propolis. And don’t forget the added bonus of increased productivity in the garden.
- Due to the devastating effects of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), bees have been disappearing from our landscape. Returning to small-scale beekeeping, we may be able to regenerate colonies and thus secure our food supply in the future.
It goes without saying that if you or members of your family have a severe allergic reaction to bee stings, beekeeping is not for you. A severe allergic reaction can lead to anaphylactic shock and rapid death. Immediate treatment with epinephrine is needed.
For the beekeeper, the pleasure of caring for bees and the multiple sources of income outweigh the occasional bee sting.
© 2011 Shanna Ohmes