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| Most definitely NOT this winter. |
This honeybee thing started innocently enough. I was standing in the feed store a few years back, waiting to buy grain for the horses, when I looked on the counter and saw a flyer for an introductory beekeeping class. Already several months into a hard, cold winter, that beekeeping class sounded like just the antidote for cabin fever.
At the time I'd heard all the buzz about collapsing honeybee colonies and knew something about the plight of the honeybee, but I hadn't a clue about beekeeping. But, I reasoned, I live on a farm and honeybees would be the perfect addition to our simple lifestyle. So I signed up and attended the class, which was an eight hour crash course covered in two days.
The local beekeeping association hosted the class, and it was very informative, and also a little scary. So. Many. Chemicals. I was shocked at how many chemicals were routinely applied to hives in attempts to control mites and other diseases. This notion did not sit well with me, and after the first night of the class my gut was telling me that I didn't have to do things "that way." Still, I listened carefully and took notes, and then decided to go for it and ordered a package of honeybees. In six weeks, three pounds of hybrid Italian honeybees would be shipped and they'd have my name on them.
The honeybees arrived on the day of our wedding anniversary, and I took this to be a very good sign. Late in the afternoon, I went to the bee farm and picked up my buzzing little screen wire package, chock full of golden honeybees. I set them carefully on the floorboard of my car. I fell in love with them on the drive home.
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| A honeybee works a blackberry blossom. |
Without going into all the details, I can tell you that I committed every rookie mistake that first season. Still, despite my fumbles, the honeybees survived, and even thrived. I'm happy to report that my beehive has never been exposed to any chemicals, and instead of harvesting their honey, I leave every bit of it for the bees so that they can have a completely natural diet all winter long. Last April, the hive swarmed for the first time, and I was relieved that a local beekeeper (whom I hold in highest regard) came over and took the swarm for himself. My hive rebounded after the swarm, and rebuilt itself over the summer. My plan, should they swarm again this spring, is to leave them alone with the hopes that they will find a new location and will live as wild honeybees.
That, ladies and gentlemen, has always been my goal as a beekeeper.
