So why DO you keep bees?

NewbeeInNH said:

Why do we keep bees? The honey is nice, but it's just fun. It's hard to explain to people. I told him it's just a hobby.

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I think for some of us, it goes into the "exotic pets" category. Like keeping a tiger or an iguana. Plus the honey.

After keeping bees three years in an extreme drought, I am asking myself more often, why do I keep bees?

I've been doing this for about 25-30 years now and it's just because I like bees. They are interesting and no 2 hives are just alike. There is always something new to learn or some new problem to figure out. LOLOL I don't even LIKE honey!

JMO

Rusty

One thing lead to another....Gardening lead me to getting and learning about compost worms and learning about pollination ...that lead to bees. There didnt seem to be any in my area anymore and I decided to give em a home. I have 5 acres with a creek in the back and I wasnt doing anything with the land. If anything the back 2 acres where the creek is, is wild. Perfect spot in the sun near water. Keeps me busy and I figure its better than a dog cuz I only really have to check em every 2-3 weeks.....not like theres a lot of "hands on" to em. Once established...I dont expect to spend hardly anything on them so thats a plus.

Because it's fascinating.

NewbeeInNH said:

Yesterday my brother said to me on the phone: So, are you planning to go commercial with your bees?

No.

Are you in it for the honey then?

No.

Then why do you do it?

It's challenging.

Why do we keep bees? The honey is nice, but it's just fun. It's hard to explain to people. I told him it's just a hobby.

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I enjoy it very much and I can make a living doing what I enjoy.

NewbeeInNH said:

Then why do you do it?

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Keeping bees is fun,

I really like starting new colonies and watching them grow, and hopefully prosper. And, I really like honey.

Shane

Is keeping bees any more odd then having an aquarium of fish? I mean, yes, beekeeping is more challenging, but conceptually, kind of similar no?

I'm brand new at this but to me it's like gardening. Just another type of gardening. Lots of puzzles to figure out. Plus I've always wanted to raise 'critters' but then you have to worry about who you sell them to and contributing to 'pet' overpopulation. Bees are the only thing I can raise that actually CONTRIBUTES to the environment. I don't have to slaughter them for food, the neighbor's dogs won't kill them, and I don't have to shovel their poop.

trottet1 said:

Is keeping bees any more odd then having an aquarium of fish? I mean, yes, beekeeping is more challenging, but conceptually, kind of similar no?

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That's true! That's the one I'm using next time. "It's like keeping fish. They're fun to watch."

Thats a good one millenia never thought of it that way, there the perfect pet. Dont have to take them potty or to the vet. They even sting you cause they want to help with your aches and pains, loving little things and they offer us food. What pet would be better than that. I just need to convince my wife of all there attributes so I can get more hives.

Love insects and find them fascinating. Love honey. Love the smell of honeycomb -- heavenly! And bees are a family tradition.

I don't, I house them and they tolerate me

i can think of a few reasons why i do it:

challenge
extremely fascinating instinct
honey is so good
pollination for everything they touch
a little extra "walking around money"
they need help

that's a start.

Took a carpentry course a few years ago and my instructor was always talking about his hives, and seeing as how I had just moved onto 10 acres the thought of keeping them and his ramblings just captivated me.

Great for the environment, not a huge amount of hours spent caring for them, and honey can be used for a lot of things, medicine, food and booze for starters.

I keep bees because I love the way they smell,love to get stung once in awhile makes me feel alive and loved by them lol. There personality's are different in every hive I like to figure it out.of course i love to taste there honey straight from the hive.Besides all that there just so awesome!!

I keep bees because watching them is almost like meditation. Sitting in the grass watching them come and go is very relaxing. Besides that, the honey produced in western WA is the greatest any where! Finally, since starting this hobby in 2011 I have noticed a huge increase in cherry, pear and apple crops. I can now get the same amount of produce for my family with fewer trees.

I don't have bees yet but I want them because I think they are magnificent and interesting. I think the hives smell good, and I love the way those fuzzy little bees feel. Being stung is something else, but I actually do kinda like it LOL. And guess what, I think the people that keep bees are just as awesome and interesting as the bees are! And I flipping love honey.

"Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated"... it's the hive taking over our minds...