Oh Honey, Honeybee

I am a big fan of honeybees. Hearing their buzz in the spring and summer is as nurturing to my ears as a classical concerto, and while I have also suffered their stinging wrath, I still find them some of the most fascinating creatures I have ever come across. They are both simple and complicated creatures, able to exist each with their own duty and also as a complete entity- the Hive. 

So why do I love these little bugs? Despite the hard wrap they get from many a grade-schooler and adult alike, honeybees are an intrinsic link in the food chain, and one that is disappearing at a worrisome rate. Colony collapse disorder has been growing in awareness as of late, and the reasons for it, while varying, are largely unknown. What can one person do to help the bees?

Beekeeping. Keeping your own hive of bees, given that your property is large enough for such an endeavor, can be a rewarding and charming experience. Bees are the primary pollinators of flowers and fruiting plants alike, making them the prime movers for delicious miracles such as the apple or the daisy. Many fruit farms keep numerous hives to guarantee full pollination, while home-hives can make your garden brighter and more colorful than ever before. 

When it comes to suburban beekeeping, many sites have helpful tips for keeping happy, healthy bees that don’t interfere with neighbors or passers-by. But all this comes down to the most delicious result of beekeeping; honey!

Honey comes in a variety of forms, the most popular is the one we see in the jar at the grocery store, but comb honey is just as delicious straight from the hive. The flavor of the honey can vary depending on the plants visited by the bees. Wildflower honey has a deeper flavor then orange blossom honey, which is light and slightly fruity. 

With spring coming just around the corner, consider the honeybee. Whether you live in the city or in the backcountry, bees make a great addition to any home. 

AceFisch | My Bio & Articles

I am an junior English major/ Philosophy minor at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Currently I am spending the spring of 2009 studying at the University College Cork in Cork, Ireland.