Become A Backyard Beekeeper

I live in Utah…the Beehive State. So I guess it’s not surprising that I am now officially a beekeeper. Of course there’s a little more to the story than that. My nephew Nate recently became enamored with the whole beekeeping phenomena and his enthusiasm is always contagious! :-) After he regaled me with stories about his beehives I became intrigued and did some research on my own. I had no idea how interesting, important, and fun this “hobby” can be.

More Ideas You'll Love

6 Humidifier Alternatives That Add Moisture To Dry Air

And apparently my nephew and I aren’t the only ones who think so! Across the country, there has been a dramatic increase in backyard beekeepers as more and more people come to realize the importance of honeybees.

Here are just some of the reasons I, and many others, are deciding to become apiarists…or “honey farmers:”

Bees play an essential role in pollination and fertilization of many crops and can be a great way to help your vegetables, flowers, fruits and other garden plants thrive.

Of course there’s the honey. Honey from your own yard is the healthiest for your body (not to mention, the best tasting!) Raw honey is not only a great sweetener, but it has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. It’s been used as a potent healing agent for thousands of years and because of its chemical makeup, honey can be stored and preserved for decades.

While these reasons are great….for me the more COMPELLING reason was simply to…

Pesticides have wiped out most of the native varieties of honey bees in the U.S. Commercial bee populations are also under attack by parasites and disease — and they are losing the battle. This is bad news for all of us. The common honeybee pollinates 130 different