Most mornings I begin my day with a delicious breakfast of yogurt and fresh, local fruit drizzled with honey. Today as I stood at the counter, mindlessly swirling golden nectar over the apples in my bowl, I suddenly snapped into awareness. Imagine the world without bees. I paused to think. But try as I might, I could not picture it at all.
As gardeners, bees are so much a part of our everyday lives, buzzing along side us as we work, it's easy to take them for granted. But without these insects, pollination would be severely limited; and without pollination, countless fruits, vegetables and flowers would cease to exist. In fact, one third of all fruit and vegetable crops depend on bees for pollination. Bees, and the decline in world honeybee populations in particular, are a hot topic right now. Although the cause of colony collapse disorder, the disease severely reducing honeybee numbers, remains unknown, the issue has raised many legitimate environmental questions and concerns. These days, when I begin my morning ritual, it's hard not to think about the tiny yellow insects responsible for my sweet breakfast.
Backyard beekeeping is a rapidly growing hobby, attracting country dwellers and urbanites alike. A number of my garden clients keep honeybees, and I have been thinking about starting a hive myself. My interest was sparked, in part, by a young beekeeper named Marina Marchese, and her book Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper. I learned about Marina and her work through a non-profit organization called The Honeybee Conservancy. After reading a bit about Marina's life and her decision to become a beekeeper, I ordered several beekeeping books by accomplished keepers in order to learn more about these fascinating insects. At the moment I am reading Kim Flottum's book The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook. Kim is the editor of Bee Culture magazine and the author of several beekeeping titles. His latest book includes basic information for beginning beekeepers as well as delightful recipes for homegrown honey. Also on my reading list is Hive Management, a more advanced manual for apiaries written by author and beekeeper Richard Bonney.
I will be the first admit that I am a little scared by the idea of sticking my hands into a beehive. Those little stingers are meant to serve as a deterrent to would-be thieves—and they work! But when I consider the benefits of fruit-tree pollination, and the rewards of home-harvested honey and beeswax, my fears begin to subside. With proper protection and training, perhaps I can learn to work with the bee, as well as beside him. So while the honeybees hibernate in their snow-covered hives, I will be curled up in my chair, weighing the pros and cons of beekeeping. There are many things to consider: set-up costs, maintenance, hive security, (from predators such as bears), and more. Will I or won't I make the leap? I have all winter to decide.
Are you concerned about the well-being of the honeybee? Would you consider setting up a beehive in your garden?
Michaela grew up gardening, studying plants, and picking organic produce on the family farm. When she isn't spreading compost or pruning shrubs, she can usually be found writing articles or giving seminars on all things gardening. Michaela has worked as a gardening professional for 15 years and is author of the popular blog, The Gardener’s Eden.
