This week we have visited three apiaries, bee farms. The hubby and I have now seen bee keeping from three completely different angles. First we saw bees raised from hobbyist turned educators who are well known for both their honey but their knowledge. We have seen just how far bee keeping can grow into farming and thrive in a market setting. Our third stop on Thursday sent us to meet with Erica, a hobby bee keeper. Hobby isn’t really the right word here. A way of life is better considering this accidental passion was birthed out of love for another.

Erica’s son suffered from allergies and other related issues. For those of you who didn’t know, a teaspoon of honey a day, especially during peek season of your allergies, can improve, and in many cases, erase your allergy symptoms. The honey must be purchased within a ten mile radius I am told, but I have heard this many times in the course of my years. Erica’s son improved and hadn’t had an asthma attack in a long time. Honey is anti-allergenic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fugal. With over 5000 live enzymes it improves digestion and has been used as a cure for morning sickness. It soothes sore throats, is anti-aging and boost energy. This is only a handful of benefits from honey.

Erica researched three full years before starting. I think it paid off. After being greeted by blossom, the family guard goat, I was giving a short tour of the farm before suiting up.

The family raises beef, goats, quail, chickens, and bees. Let me not forget those baby geese. Cute, but I wasn’t about to pat their fuzzy little heads considering they only brought back some horrid childhood memories. If you have never been chased by an angry mother goose, you wouldn’t understand.

Erica has three hives and she invited me over to help with inspections. It was an experience. As we geared up I found Erica got her start from the Honeybee connection. Which if you remember my appointment just the day before, helps run that business as well as his own. Being part of hive inspections requires a full bee suit and gloves.

Erica was very informative, and a whole lot stronger than she looks lifting those supers like they were simply empty. I’m the one holding the smoker. I know so little still, but a saw-miller’s daughter can keep a fire going, so that was my job for the inspection.

The thing I found most interesting while at Erica’s farm was her swarm catching abilities. Though all three of the families I met this week have caught swarms, Erica does it barehanded with nothing but a box and two pans. Yes, you heard that correctly. Just this past April Erica caught a swarm which is thriving so well, she will be collecting from it’s hive later in the month.

Having family that raised bees before her, Erica listened to what works. However, she nor I recommend you going out doing this. Catching swarms is not as easy as it sounds.

When a swarm is spotted you can beat two stainless steel pan together as loud as possible. This vibrates and disturbs the air just enough to confuse the bees and throw them off balance. They will land quickly on a tree, post, or fence, for safety reasons. Erica then scoops up these wild, angry, rattled bees by the hand fulls and put them in a box. She said you know when you find the queen because the bees calm and don’t try leaving. I will not be testing this practice, but she is the professional. Moving on.

Did you know bees cheer. Me neither. She had lost a queen to one of her hives and after a few failed mail delivery purchases she received a healthy queen. When she sat the queen, still in its protective cage because bees will kill her knowing she isn’t their queen, she said she heard an immediate sound she would never forget. A low hum that grew louder and louder, but non-threatening. It was then she realized they were cheering because after weeks and weeks, they finally had a queen.

Over all I would say we were extremely fortunate to have visited three. If your considering raising bees, I recommend doing this. You will have a chance to see how others do it. Listen to their wisdom, it was gained by failure. Take a glimpse into everyone’s own experience, before deciding your own method. Then when you are ready, you will have mentors, friends, and advisors who can help you along the way.