Benefits of Beekeeping
Have you ever wondered why people keep bees? Honey? Of course, but the benefits of beekeeping go far beyond a sweet jar of honey. It’s a hobby with deep personal and environmental rewards, from helping your garden yield more to – yes, filling those jars of honey. Whether you’re just curious about backyard beekeeping or already dreaming of your first hive, you’ll soon see why so many people are choosing to keep bees.
Keeping thousands of bees with stingers in a box – does that sound like fun to you? Well, for thousands of beekeepers it is a wonderful pastime. Maybe it is time you consider learning how to start beekeeping.
Why Keep Bees Anyway?
It is common to hear the comment “why keep bees when you can just go to the store and buy honey?”. Let me warn you that many beekeepers do not “save money” on honey by keeping bees.
There are some costs in beekeeping and you have to put in some time and effort. But, there are several perks to having your own hives.
Honey Produced by YOUR Bees
Honey is not the only valuable hive product made by bees – but it is the most popular. Nothing compares to the unique taste of fresh honey harvested from your own hives.
Home-harvested honey reflects the flavors of the plants in your area. The flavor and color of honey you collect will vary from year to year or season to season.
Best of all, when you manage the hives and bottle the jars – you know you are enjoying raw, pure honey at it’s best.
Beeswax & Other Hive Bonuses
Honey gets all the media attention but its not the only champion from the hive. Beeswax is made by honey bees and shaped into honeycomb. This is used for food storage and rearing young.
Beekeepers usually have some excess beeswax after the harvest season. What can you use beeswax for?
The possibilities are basically endless. In addition to making beeswax candles, I use a percentage of bees wax in my balms and salves.
Some beekeepers routinely collect bee pollen that is used in many human health care regimes. Another, valuable hive by-product is propolis or bee-glue.
I routinely scrape bee propolis from my equipment at the end of the season. Sometimes, I make a simple propolis tincture using grain alcohol.
Pollination Boost for Your Garden
If you have a vegetable garden or orchard, bees are your best friends. Of course, native bees – such as bumble bees (vs honey bees) do a great job of pollinating. But, they don’t live in large families like our honey bees.
Keeping bees benefits others in your area as well. Your neighbors will enjoy larger crop yields because your bees stop by for a nip of nectar or bite of pollen.
The Big Picture – Benefits of Beekeeping
A hive of honey bees are more than just a hobby in your backyard. They’re part of a bigger picture. Bees create an impact on the environment as a whole.
Role in Healthy Ecosystem
Honey bees are well-known pollinators of many foods we enjoy each day. Apples, blueberries, cucumbers, almonds and more depend on honey bee pollination. The primary value of beekeeping in the United States is honey bee pollination of crops.
But, it is not only we humans who benefit from keeping bees. Various forms of wildlife enjoy increased food supplies from well-pollinated plants (berries, nuts, etc).
Economic Role
Another benefit of beekeeping is the jobs provided by the industry. Modern agriculture systems grow large fields crops that are commonly in bloom at the same time.
This is where migratory beekeeping businesses are help farmers by trucking in bees to leave there for the bloom period.
On a smaller scale, every year sees new people want to keep bees. They will need beekeeping supplies and equipment – all of which provides jobs.
Personal Perks of Keeping Bees
The joy of being beekeeping must not be overlooked. A beekeeper harvesting honey for the first time is filled with a sense of achievement. I promise – that will be the best tasting honey ever!
Learning to manage beehives during all seasons (including Winter beekeeping) is a chore. But, it is a great feeling when things work out and you come through the year with healthy, strong hives.
Not everyone can do that. And, sometimes – I can’t either! Yes, I’ve read all the books about beekeeping but we have only scratched the surface of the secrets of bees.
A Relaxing Hobby
For some, the act of tending a beehive has a calming affect. Mental health issues such as depression, PTSD and even anxiety having shown improvement for those involved in keeping bees.
As an anxiety sufferer, I must say that my hives have caused some serious frustration at times. But, I feel the benefits of keeping bees has outweighed the hassles.
You will find that many famous people became beekeepers in order to relax and connect with nature.
Beekeeping Can be Profitable
The majority of beekeepers are small-scale hobbyists. But, this does not mean that it is not possible for a beekeeper to make money.
With time and dedication, you can even develop a bee farm or profitable business. Managing hundreds of colonies for honey production or pollination – or selling bees or equipment to other beekeepers- all are possible.
For most people, backyard beekeeping is a hobby. But, the beekeeper may sell a little honey at a local farmers market or to friends.
Family Bonding Experience
It may surprise you to learn that one benefits of beekeeping is more family time. Letting the kids become involved in taking care of a hive is a unique educational experience.
Beekeeping suits are available in kid sizes too. Helping Mom, Dad, Grandmother or Grandfather with the bees is an experience that is never forgotten.
Join the Beekeeping Community
Beekeepers love nothing more than to talk about their hives. And, we can go on and on about our experiences, sometimes to our families regret. Keeping bees may bring some new friends into your life.
Local beekeeping associations hold regular meetings for members of the community to come together and learn. These can be a lot of fun.
Why Beekeeping Matters More Than Ever
Honey bees have been under pressure in the last few years. Large scale bee die-offs stunned the beekeeping community are resulted in lots of media attention. But, local beekeepers are the first line of defense.
When Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) was first observed, it was beekeepers that noticed the problem first. Reducing bee populations alerted researchers to begin exploring possible causes.
Small-Scale Beekeepers Can Make a Difference
Not everyone can manage hundreds of hives – and that’s okay. Even a couple of hives in your backyard makes an impact. And when thousands of small beekeepers combine their efforts – the results can be far-reaching.
FAQs
Yes, beekeeping can be very rewarding. Educate and prepare prior to getting bees for best chances of success.
Keeping bees can be a profitable adventure. However, it is not a get rich quick scheme – proper planning, hard work and sometimes a bit of luck are all necessary.
Yes! Beekeeping supports local pollination, which improves crop yields and helps wild plants thrive.
Final Thoughts
In spite of the many benefits of beekeeping, it is not all fun and games. Any activity that involves managing live creatures involves some stress.
Things won’t always work out perfectly – beekeepers make mistakes. However, most of us love our colonies and strive to provide a safe, healthy environment for them.
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