If you are interested in taking up beekeeping, then what are you waiting for? It's alot of fun and the benefits you'll enjoy are many, especially if you're thinking of
beekeeping with honey bees. Not only does the beekeeper have their own garden and the gardens of their neighbors pollinated, they get to consume their very own exquisite honey every day.
The Short Life of a Bee
We all know what "busy as a bee" means and there's a very good reason for that. That's because it is so very true! Bees work so much each day to bring nectar back to the hive that a little over 35 short days after their birth, they have already worn out their wings with the result of being no use to the hive, and then they simply die. The honey that is gathered is a supply of food for the colony when the flowers are not blooming. If the season has been a good one with the flowers giving good amounts of nectar, then the bees collect this nectar and make much more honey that they could ever hope to eat on their own. The beekeeper of hives such as this can collect more than enough honey for themselves and also to sell.
Comb Honey and Liquid Honey
There are two paths for beekeepers to take to make money from the honey their hive is producing by selling two different varieties of honey. The first is the "liquid honey" that is removed from the hive itself. Utilizing centrifuge equipment and machines known as extractors, makes this process fairly simple. And the other option is by selling the individual pieces of the "comb" itself. The comb honey is the honey that remains in the original wax combs that the bees assembled. Comb honey is highly prized by those who do favor the natural approach, although is it less adaptable than the liquid form of honey; such as being used for cooking and in the flavoring of drinks.
Why There are Different Flavors and Scents to Honey
Honey has a multitude of flavors and colors but this is a fact shared by few. And it begins with the flowers - different flowers possess different scents. As a result, the nectar from one flower will possess a different taste and smell to another type of flower. The make-up the soil also has an input into the appearance of the honey and the flavor. A good example of this is alfalfa. Due to the alkali soil it grows in, the honey it's derived from will be a white or clear color. And the honey that comes from the nectar of buckwheat will be of a much darker color due to the high levels of acidity in that particular soil. Also, the quality of the honey comb that the bees cultivate determines the color and taste. The most common color is in the range of different hues of yellow but it's not unusual to see red or even green honey.
Your Business of Beekeeping
Something that beekeepers need to do is comply with the state and federal regulations in regards to the processing, labeling and handling of food products when honey and other types of bee products are involved. It must be understood that it's a real business and the guidelines of local government bodies may differ for beekeeping in certain areas. Marketing strategies also need to be taken into consideration by any beekeeper who wishes to promote and sell their honey products. Examples could be: "Where would be the best location to sell honey in this area?" and "Which kinds of consumers or demographic should be honed in on for maximum sales?". Beekeeping is a rewarding hobby - but when it becomes a business for profit enterprise - the hobby must be then seen as a business and the decisions made need to help the beekeeper to not just survive, but to thrive.
