08 June 2009

Busy as a Bee








Marianne and I didn't fit the typical bee keeping stereotype.  We weren't wearing our tie-dyed socks with our berkenstocks, nor our foam/mesh hats, but we tried our best to fit in and learn about the most amazing insect on earth {in my humble opinion} for the day when we'll have our very own apiary.  I already had a great respect for the gentle honeybee, but adding to my knowledge gave me an actual reverence for these creatures.  When scoping out a new location, the scout bees go over every inch of a place to make sure it will do, then they measure the entire area by hanging onto each other, creating a bee ruler, before beginning to build their perfect rows of hexagon housing for honey {among other uses}.  They know their queen by scent and defend her to their death.  In life, the honeybee works for the good of the colony, literally working to death.  They give directions to fellow workers of new nectar locations by doing a waggle dance.  In order to get those directions you must count the number and speed of wing flutters, shakes, and turns. 

Bees are intelligent, faithful, defenders, self-sufficient, industrial, precise, and diligent.

We would do well to learn from them.

Post Script:  Ever tried Acacia Honey?  Please do.  Hands down my favorite.

13 comments:

  1. BEE-YOU-TI-FUL! Can't wait to sample some of your own hive's honey.

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  2. That is so cool--I want to know more! Someone from our dinner last night left acacia honey at our apartment in Seoul, South Korea. A coincident? I don't think so.

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  3. What an exciting, fun venture! We learned about swarm theory in homeschool and bees are amazing at what they can accomplish. Did you know that Mayan honeybees (Yucatan penninsula) have no stingers?

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  4. I'd very much like to "bee" involved, especially when you actually get your hive started.

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  5. You did it! You actually did it! You were talking about it at Enrichment the other night and woh-lah. Very impressive. You and Marianne look too cute in your honeybee attire. Are all those jars of honey yours? What does G stand for.

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  6. I forgot to comment on your adjectives of bees -- it describes Brigham Young and the early pioneers very well. Hence, Utah is the Beehive State. But it also describes you and Marianne.

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  7. We received two kinds of honey:::Orange Blossom & Gallberry.

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  8. Love this! Way to go for you--getting started on your own hive. I, too, revere bees. I borrowed a book from the library not to long ago about bees. It was the most interesting book...and had lots of recipes to make with honey--including facials and beauty regimens that Cleopatra used. Right now, as I type, my children are singing the baby bumble bee song...weird.

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  9. Thanks for inviting me, I had so much fun. Matt has been questioning me continuously about the amazing Bee. I am actually surprised at how much I remember....just hope I can remember it into the far future.... when I can have my own Apiary!!

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  10. blog is getting better and better. am loving it. all of it. tell me how you ended up in an apiary. methinks i want to check one out too.

    been reading your clippy descriptions. told you you didn't need me anymore.
    now, on to your baby dresses...

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  11. a friend of mine has been beekeeping for at least 10 years now. She loves it! She went out the other day to check her hives in nothing but a tee shirt, capri's and flip flops. She always talks about how much she learns from the creatures, respect and reverence are key principles.

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  12. Bees do have many remarkable and admirable traits, many of which we would do well to emulate. One area that we as humans do better than bees, though, is in our celebration of the individual.

    Poor bees pretty much lack any individual worth, excepting only the queen of course. They are completely swallowed up in the collective, honoring and placing value only on the live of their dear leader. That is all well and good for bees, but it is a tragedy when it takes place in the human world.

    But industrious, faithful, intelligent, self-sufficient, precise, diligent, and defenders of what is good and right we all should be!

    Also, I think you are brave for your bee adventure. I must admit I am a little scared of bees, though I do love their honey!

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  13. Just found your blog and am reading the backstory. I want to share that I am a beekeeper, two years now, and you know you are in love when you stand in the cold snow, with one ear pressed to a hive, LISTENING hard for any sign of gentle humming. When you hear it, it is better than music.

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