To Bee, or not to Bee...

Standing in my kitchen, eating a piece of buttered toast, slathered with honey, I have made the decision to try my hand at beekeeping. Knowing that thousands of bees produced this delectable treat just 200 feet from where I was enjoying it, was simply amazing. If you have known me for decades, you are probably stifling laughter right now or shaking your head in disbelief. For those with whom I am newly acquainted, I'll offer an explanation. When I was young, and even much older than I'd care to admit, I had a fear of bees. Playing outside, if a bee came near me, I'd race away. And it wasn't just bees. Any insect capable of stinging me would result in this response. When I try to figure out why, I am taken back to scout camp. There were steps leading down to the lake, through the woods. About every ten feet or so, there were little signs pointing to values that one should possess. At the top was, "Trustworthy". Farther down were "Loyal", "Clean", and "Reverent." When I was eight or nine, right next to the "Friendly" sign, I was stung by a wasp. In my ankle. And it hurt. I had a serious reaction to the sting. I don't think it was at all physiological. In truth, it was more of an over-reaction. Tears, going to the medical building and getting some TLC were how I spent my time for the next half of an hour, instead of swimming in the lake. For me, that was the defining moment in my dislike of insects that could harm me.

Fast forward to the present. I have a friend who keeps her beehive on my property, close to our large garden. For the last two years, I have learned from her and watched in fascination how one maintains a hive. I have even stood within fifteen feet of thousands of buzzing bees. They are simply incredible creatures. For my part of things, I have been trying to always have something flowering in the yard. I stopped cutting the grass last summer for several reasons, one of which was the bees.

We had a wasp nest in the foundation of our house this summer. Their entrance was at ground level, right by our front door. Rather than attempt to eradicate them, I just left them alone. As I entered and exited the house, I would ignore them as I quickly walked past. In the height of summer, I felt as if I was watching flights at O'Hare airport. This was a good test of my newfound courage with relation to stinging insects.

Lately, I have been concerned with some of my buying habits. I am not comfortable that some of my vices, chocolate, coffee and bananas need to be shipped so far to contribute to my satisfaction in life. Why not try my hand at something I can control and benefit from? The more I read about bees, the more I learn of their importance in human life on our planet. This endeavor seems like a good one for someone who likes to garden. I am imagining an increase in yield from having such active pollinators near my fruiting plants..

There is a beekeeper in Madison who markets honey under the Mad Urban Bees label. Seeing the different shades of honey and tasting the nuance flavors was intriguing. Recently, I saw the photo online of a pyramid of honey in a wide range of amber shades. So beautiful! The fact that honey keeps for ever is another plus.

I know that I can buy honey from others, probably for less than what my beekeeping will cost, but that isn't the point. Being responsible for my own needs is important. Plus, I'll have greater control over the product. This is the same argument that I have about maintaining a garden. One cannot put a price on a store bought tomato versus a homegrown one straight from the vine. If I am serious about trying to live a more sustainable life, I need to do this. I am looking at making a move to some family land in the center part of the state. I think the setting would be ideal for a hive.

My winter project is to continue to research and look at taking some classes and learning from my friend. I have learned of Capital Bee Supply in Columbus and I plan to start gathering what I need. I know that sometimes I get an idea in my head and I don't follow through. I think this one, I'll make happen.

To bee, or not to bee, that is the question.