Did you know that honey bees are busy producing honey in the Village? Several Village residents have honey bee hives. There is no restriction against having honey bees, in fact it is state law that honey bees cannot be restricted in communities. This is because the honeybee is under a great deal of stress due to suburban growth, pesticides, various parasites that attack bees, and climate change.
Caring for honey bees can be a very rewarding and educational experience. Also, always having a good supply of honey is a big bonus! Here are several facts about the honey bee.
- There are 20,000 species of bees in the world.
- Honey Bees are not indigenous to North America. They were introduced in 1683 from Europe.
- There is a strong link between agriculture and bees. Each needs the other. Bees pollinate plants and get nutrition from them.
- One third of our total diet is dependent (directly or indirectly) upon insect-pollinated plants.
Bee Keeping Tips
For those interested in becoming a beekeeper here are a few tips.
Beginners beekeeper classes
Before investing in equipment, attend a beginning beekeeper class. There are a number of classes that can be found by visiting these links:
Maplelawn Farmstead will also be holding a beginning bee keeper class this spring. Keep an eye on their website for details.
Find a mentor
Always try and find an experienced mentor. There is much to learn about bee keeping and a good mentor can make the difference between a positive or negative experience.
Don’t expect to make money
It is not a good idea to enter into beekeeping with the expectation of making money. It is a great hobby but on a small scale is not always a money-making enterprise.
Use proper equipment and signage
When keeping bees in an urban area it is best to have an enclosed environment and proper signage indicating to your neighbors that there are honey bees in the area.
Mark Walters is in his fourth year of beekeeping in the Village. He is eager to share his experiences as a beginning beekeeper and assist those who are interested in pursuing this rewarding hobby.
