5 Reasons You Gotta Start Beekeeping This Spring

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Have you been thinking about employing some bees but are still sitting on the fence? Raising bees is a wonderful and practical hobby that has many benefits.

Here are my top five reasons why I can’t wait to raise bees — and a few tips on getting started.

1. Honey

Raw and local honey offers a plethora of health benefits. Honey is known as the oldest sweetener on the planet and here is another amazing fact: It never spoils. What better way to enjoy all it has to offer then to raise your own bees. Also known as liquid gold, honey contains a treasure trove of healing properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial nature, honey is a wonderful remedy for minor burns and wounds. Honey is also a tasty alternative to refined sugar, loaded with antioxidants, mineral and vitamins. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, raw and local honey provides great relief.

2. Pollination

Bees are instrumental in the process of pollination. In fact, this is by far their most important job. Without it, flowers, fruit trees and crops would not grow, and our food supply would dwindle.

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It is estimated that cross-pollination from bees is instrumental in the growth of 30 percent of the world’s food crops and 90 percent of wild plants.

3. Beeswax

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This free byproduct of hives offers amazing therapeutic value. Bees have to fly a total of 150,000 miles to produce one pound of wax, and eat about six pounds of honey to secrete the wax. Keep in mind that for every 100 pounds of honey a beekeeper harvests, only one to two pounds of beeswax are produced.

Beeswax is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, making it a near-perfect addition to creams, salves and balms. The great things about beeswax is that it is incredibly easy to turn into your own products. I love to melt beeswax and mix it with sweet almond oil, vitamin E oil and my favorite essential oils to make a moisturizing cream that keeps my skin soft and supple.

4. It is educational and fun

There is nothing quite so engaging as watching nature at work. If you are in the market for a fun hobby, bees are the answer. It is a wonderful opportunity to teach young and old alike about amazing natural feats.

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Bees are incredible working machines and they deserve an audience. You even can purchase observation hives, which makes the whole project even more interesting.

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5. It’s environmentally responsible

With the modern-day plight of the bees, it is environmentally responsible to help preserve the honeybee population any way we can. Even putting up one hive can help to establish the honeybee population in your area.

Tips for getting started

• Learn more: Read books and get to know beekeepers in your area. Even take a class.
• Start small: Don’t get burned out with a huge operation. Start small your first year.
• Purchase a kit: This is the easiest way to get all that you need to get started.
• Know the risks: Safety is always first. Be sure you understand all of the potential risks.
• Join a beekeeping club: Search out a beekeeping club in your area and become a member.

There you have it. It’s time to “bee” amazed with this wonderful gift from God!

What beekeeping tips would you add? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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