What makes honey such a beloved ingredient in so many recipes?
Ask five people and you’ll get ten answers. One may say they love the unique flavor of honey and what it adds to their bowl of oatmeal or cup of chamomile tea. Another may say it’s a great addition to their do-it-yourself lotion base and does wonders for their dry skin. Whatever honey does for you, you’re already putting that passion into your next great project: becoming a beekeeper. How do you get started, though? Not only do you need to buy the right equipment, you also need to learn more about honeybees and what they have to offer.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Here are some basic tips on buying the right beekeeping equipment so you can become one of the best beekeepers around.
Fun Facts About Bees
Before you look into a beehive smoker, learn more about this unique creature and the constant impact they have on our daily lives…whether we realize it or not! Bees are best known for pollinating flowers and providing us the fruit we need to lead healthy lives, but how do they manage such a monumental feat? Scientists have revealed honey bees can fly up to 15 miles per hour. A single pellet of bee pollen also contains more than two million grains of flower pollen. Be sure to thank your local bees next time you bite into that apple!
The American Beekeeping Industry
Why are so many people getting into beekeeping lately? It could have something to do with the increased demand for organic bee pollen, honey candy and pure royal jelly. Honey is used for all sorts of recipes today, which makes even a small deficit extremely noticeable. Back in 2013 North Dakota lead the way in honey production with over 33 million pounds of honey produced. In fact, Americans consume an average of one and a half pounds of honey per person every single year. Now’s a great time to brush up on what constitutes a good bee hive smoker and just what you want to create out of your own raw organic honey.
Bee Hive Smoker
Bees are fascinating little creatures. They have complex societies, fly incredibly fast and are responsible for creating a healthier world. This doesn’t mean they like having their hives invaded! A bee hive smoker is a necessary component in your beekeeping equipment kit and will make sure your honeybees aren’t exerting themselves unnecessarily when you go in to collect. Smoke has calming effects on bees and makes them sluggish, but don’t worry about their well-being. It’s also perfectly healthy and can be inserted directly into the hive to help them relax.
Beekeeper Hat, Gloves And Kit
The image of the classic beekeeper is a person with a netted hat, thick gloves and a small box of tools. Beekeeping for beginners means you need to prioritize your safety over all else, even if you’re lucky enough not to be allergic to bee stings. The USDA reported back in 2014 the number of colonies managed by human beekeepers was at the highest it’s ever been in the past 20 years. How many? Just a little over two and a half million, with bees pollinating more than $15 billion a year in crops alone. There’s a lot you and your new bee hive smoker can offer, to say the least!
The Future Of The Beekeeping Industry
Now’s a great time to realize your true potential as a beekeeper. Bees are powerful insects that are more than capable of cultivating a harmonious relationship with humans who are both cautious and proactive. The average honey bee will produce one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. To make a full pound of honey a honey bee has to fly around 90,000 miles (that’s three times around the globe). With your bee hive smoker and carefully maintained hive, you’re well on your way to taking advantage of these seemingly astronomical statistics.
People want organic honey for their trail mix bars and flavored honey stix as a low-calorie snack. Which products will you be crafting in the future?