Backyard BeekeepingBackyard beekeeping can bring us closer to flowers and trees whose nectar is the source of honey. Humans have enjoyed a relationship with bees for centuries. I know our garden wouldn't bloom nearly as well without them and our biscuits would not be nearly as sweet. The inner workings of the hive have been studied and given us countless lessons. Political theorists have based many models of society on bee colonies, businessmen have copied their division of labor, and architects have learned principles of design from their hexagonal honeycomb shaped homes. We are just getting started with beekeeping and have lots to learn. So far we have learned what a brood box is, a super, how a hive works, how to get your hives, and much more. One important fact is that many of the most popular cultivated flowers provide no nectar and little pollen for bees. Culinary herbs and fruit trees are bee-friendly, and many wildflowers (sometimes considered weeds) are a rich source of food. What a great excuse to let some weeds grow up in your flower bed! The best thing you can do to encourage bees is to provide useful flowers early and late in the year for them. You will get an added bonus of having a colorful garden all season long. Consider growing a garden or patch just for them. To be successful, your patch must be in full sunlight. Bees just don't seems to want to go to the shade for their food. A seed packet with a wildflower mixture is a good way to start. The flowers are useful source of nectar and pollen Also, plants grown singly or in rows of two or three don't seem to attract them. Consider a whole patch of lavender for instance or a patch of mountain mint (our bees love this and I can dry it for arrangements). These bees are not aggressive. I can harvest the mint right out from underneath them and they just sweetly move on to the next plant. Below you will find a collection of resources we have found helpful as we start our adventure in beekeeping. Here's an informative video produced by the Tennessee Beekeepers Association.
Beginning BeekeepingNow, if you're interested in beekeeping here's something you will want to know. There are lots of supplies you will need. Just looking at the catalog can be a bit confusing because there are so many choices.Here are some resources that will help guide you along the way. Still can't find what your looking for? Search the entire web below on google for books, catalogs and plants.  Custom Search Learn how you can be a part of The Honeybee Project which is a children's educational project to raise awareness of the importance of backyard beekeeping. "Bee" sure to check out the "Honeybee Flyaround Song" produced by Tod Elliot. A teenage musician, beekeeper, and storyteller. Click here to check out the Honeybee Project.  Do you have a hobby or know something that others want to know about? Find out how we took a hobby of gardening and turned it into a successful internet business. No prior knowledge of web building required! Click here to find out more. Return to Home Page From Backyard Beekeeping
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