This is my dream: To live as my forefathers once did - in harmony with the land that sustains us. A project to investigate and innovate the creation of a low impact home with methods of living in a form of permaculture designed to sustain my family and improve biodiversity. To leave the land richer than before and in doing so enable others to do so.

Keeping Honey Bees - 5 Reasons to Start This Hobby

Posted 14/09/09 by Matt B in the Unspecified category

A guest post by Jane Vaughan

Governments around the world are starting to get nervous - bee populations are plummeting, threatening over 30% of food crops, as well as other vital crops such as cotton, and feed for farm animals. Domestic beekeepers are the only answer to the problem, and maybe you are thinking about doing your bit to help but are not too sure. This article gives you 5 specific reasons why this is a hobby you should seriously consider.

  1. Save the world! - The varroa mite is wiping out bee colonies all over the world. Wild bee populations are declining by 50% per annum meaning that domestic bee hives are essential to the continuation of our food chain.
  2. Get a better garden - Honey beekeepers consistently report that within a year or two of starting their first hive, their garden is flourishing. Larger, healthier and more prolific flower, vegetable and fruit crops result from having a hive or two of honey bees.
  3. The best honey - Nothing tastes quite like your own home grown honey. 100% pure honey varies in flavor based on the flowers being pollinated by the bees, and many beekeepers are able to use their knowledge and experience to produce specialist honey flavors. Enjoy the honey yourself, or start to sell it locally - this is a product that people will want to buy and you will build up a regular list of customers. Home grown honey also makes an original and much appreciated gift.
  4. Stress relief - Many beekeepers claim that the practice of tending to their hives is almost meditative in nature. You become focussed on the bees and their fascinating behaviour and just forget about those bills or that stressful job (for a while at least!)
  5. Educational - The moment you tell people that you are a beekeeper they will want to know more. Bees are a great way of teaching children about science, as well as prompting discussion about complex social structures. Don't be surprised if you get asked to talk to local school children or adult community groups.

Any experienced beekeeper could probably give you many more reasons than this, but they are a good starting point. Keeping honey bees really is an activity that benefits the environment, the economy and your own mental and physical health.

My name is Jane Vaughan and I am interested in how natural living benefits our health and wellbeing. If you want to start beekeeping but don't know how, read my reviews of the best beekeeping books on my website at http://www.trustnature.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Vaughan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Keeping-Honey-Bees---5-Reasons-to-Start-This-Hobby&id=2797483



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