Why Beekeeping?

Why would anyone want to have anything to do with beekeeping or even bees? It’s a good question. Well the obvious answer that anyone involved with beekeeping will give you is, “How long have you got?” There are so many reasons why people keep bees. When done correctly beekeeping is a complex and interesting pastime and a rewarding though not very profitable business to be in. Beekeeping is an activity that people of all ages and persuasions can indulge in, although it is possible that some may need help to lift parts of the hive or other equipment required at certain times of the year.

One of the most rewarding aspects of beekeeping is the sight of a thriving hive, which you have built, full of bees which you have nurtured, producing an abundance of honey and other hive products. That is apart from the fact that the human race and many other species on the planet depend on bees and beekeepers to fertilize crops and other plants. No, the bees do the fertilizing not the beekeepers.

Other Products? Yes other products. Most people have heard of honey and even beeswax, but not everyone knows that beekeeping has other products like Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen and Propolis.

Royal Jelly

Fed on Royal Jelly the queen can lay as much as two or three thousand eggs a day.

Royal Jelly has a beneficial effect on humans also. No, you will not lay a thousand eggs a day if you take Royal Jelly. But, it is claimed that it is a fountain of youth. This is largely due to its regenerative properties.

Most though not all of the elements of Royal Jelly have been identified. But, it seems that the powers of the natural product are not matched by the synthetic compound. Royal Jelly is said to have many medical/health giving properties. We will look at these on another page. If you check the index on the left you will find it. (Not written yet, but on the way)

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is the pollen that the bees collect from flowers. Pollen is the male seed of the plant and it is produced in a part of the flower called the stamen. In the course of their travels from flower to flower the bees fertilise the female part of the flowers by carrying the pollen to the anther. This is done completely by accident because as the bee moves around gathering the nectar it gets the pollen stuck to its body. The bees then occasionally gather the pollen and stick it to their legs.

Like Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen has been credited with many and various health promoting properties. Among these is the fact that it is very rich in vitamins and a little known Rutin, a which is good for your heart and blood pressure etc.

Propolis

Propolis is a substance produced from the resin that bees gather from trees. It is very sticky and is used by bees to glue things and patch up holes in the hive etc. Bees also use it as a disinfectant. Like Honey, Bee Pollen and Royal Jelly, Propolis too has medicinal uses for humans and it is used to treat everything from allergies to ulcers.

Honey

Honey we all know and love...or hate. I like most people happen to love it. Honey has not yet been successfully copied, though it has been tried. Synthetic honey flavouring is used in many breakfast cereals and confectionary. Synthetic honey scents are used in cosmetics and hairdressing products. But you can't beat the real thing.

Honey has a distinctive flavour and texture that is a delight and a blessing. Like the other bee products honey is at once a food and a medication. Like the other products honey contains most known vitamins and a variety of minerals. Its high sugar content means that is is good pick-me-up. Because of its high sugar content it has many of the bad side effects that eating a lot of sweets have. But I try to ignore them. I have seen reports that honey has been used by doctors to heal wounds with better results than some modern medicines. That does not mean that I recommend you daub it on the next injury you get. Leave that to the experts.

Okay, now you know some of the reasons why beekeepers do it. We can get to some of the more practical aspects of beekeeping.