Be A Backyard Beekeeper!

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The yields from my single colony might seem phenomenal to some beekeepers, but I feel that this production is a direct result of the hive's urban environment. Country apiarists, you see, often have to rely on one main "honey flow" . . . in the spring when crops and fruit trees bloom. My bees produce well in the early season too ... and have a steady supply of flowers to work on right up till winter. Almost every yard in the city has ornamental blossoms, shrubs, or trees ... and eucalyptus grows in most of the vacant lots. Best of all, there aren't any other hives in the area, and my insects don't have to compete in their search for honey makin's.

So my bees are kept pretty busy, but I don't have to do much at all to insure a steady supply of sweets! My work involves emptying a full super every month or so, and packaging the fruit of my insects' labors. And, while commercial beekeepers do much more to manage the production of their bees, my hands-off policy provides me with all the honey I want.

I use section combs (which allow the bees to "prepackage" their delicious liquid in individual one-pound boxes) because I can store or sell the little containers in inexpensive plastic bags. Better still, when honey is kept in combs it holds onto every bit of its natural goodness. And, when it's time to use the sweetener, I simply cut away the wax "capping" and let the golden syrup flow into a bowl. I give my honey to friends, use a good bit of it myself, and sell enough of the leftovers to cover my costs and then some!

All in all, I've found backyard beekeeping to be a wonderful (and inexpensive) way to bring a little "country flavor" into big city life!

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