Bees

The very unusual weather of this spring made us very much aware of the importance of bees. Without them there would be no fruit since pollination requires that they do their thing, traveling from blossom to blossom carrying pollen. The fruit blooms came early followed by cold days when bees didn’t venture outside their hives.
Our first experience with bees was in the late 1960s when, for some unremembered reason, Max decided to keep bees. He built the hives and the beeswax frames that the bees use to construct cells for holding the honey. He sent off for a queen and some bees to support her. Their arrival at the post office meant an immediate call to pick them up. Soon we had acquired veiled hats, gloves, and a smoker, used to lull the bees when inspecting the hive.
We joined the Essex County Beekeeper’s Association and attended their meetings at Essex Agricultural School where each meeting started with a rousing rendition of “Oh There’s Honey in the Rock”. Other beekeepers were generous with suggestions and advice.
In the winter we mixed sugar syrup to feed them and in the fall, harvested the honey using a hand cranked centrifugal extractor, a very sticky process. Soon we had two hives and a plenitude of honey.
Crises arose from time to time when, for some reason, the whole colony would decide to find a more attractive site. A swarm of bees requires quick action. One time I called Max home from work to collect them from where they’d settled in a huge buzzing ball on a neighbor’s shrub. Loading an empty hive on a wheelbarrow, he placed it under the swarm and then shook the branch to encourage them to drop into it.
In addition to having a generous supply of honey we had great resources for our children’s science projects.
We were pleased when in his middle school years our grandson David started keeping bees, selling the honey at local fairs earning spending money and contributing to community charities.
We no longer think of bees as a fun hobby. Without them, we’d have no fruit. Although we personally no longer manage bees, they are crucial to the success of the orchard. We have two beekeepers who keep many hives at the farm, extracting the honey and selling it back to us for our customers.
Bees are fascinating creatures. Wikipedia has a wealth of information for anyone wanting to learn more.