Bow To The Honey Bee
Bow to the Honey Bee
I never planned to be a beekeeper. In fact, I was comfortable just watching bees from a safe distance, that is, until my husband, Robert, decided we needed hives in our backyard!
You’re likely to remember a few years ago when there was a lot of buzz about the plight of honey bees. If you were listening, you probably heard agriculturalists and naturalists sounding the alarm about the rapid loss of bee colonies. Robert, always the meticulous researcher, took this concern to heart. After diving into books, videos, and gaining the advice of experts, he decided he wanted to contribute to the well-being of these crucial pollinators.
Thus, in 2022, Robert became a beekeeper—and by default, so did I.
A Life with Bees
At first, I saw myself as more of a bystander than a beekeeper. But living alongside bees means getting to know them in a way I never expected. Their world is mesmerizing—so structured and yet chaotic, so fragile and somehow resilient. The more I learn, the more I appreciate their contributions and have come to see through them, the profound hand of God in His creation.
It was a surprising fact, that honey bees aren’t even native to North America! Although they have been naturalized, originally they were introduced by Europeans settlers in the 1600s.
Our local honey bees are descendants of the Northern European dark bee (Apis mellifera mellifera), and are likely mixed with the genes of Italian and African honey bees which were later introduced to the States.
These hard-working creatures pollinate about one-third of the food we eat, and according to the Pennsylvania Dept of Agriculture, honey bees add an estimated $15 billion in value to U.S. crops annually.
But it’s not just about economics–it’s about survival. Without pollinators, crops would dwindle. Without crops, entire ecosystems, including human life, would collapse.
The Journey Ahead
In his book, The Life of Bees, Maurice Maeterlinck once wrote, “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.” That statement might be an exaggeration, but the message is clear: bees matter.
As I continue this unexpected journey, I’ll share the lessons learned about bees, natural beekeeping, and the sometimes funny, sometimes nerve-wracking moments that come with having tens-of-thousands buzzing residents.
So, welcome to our world of bees and gardening. Whether you’re an aspiring beekeeper, a nature lover, or just curious about these fascinating insects, I invite you to follow along. There’s so much to discover, and I’d love to have you on this adventure with us.
