The hobbyist beekeeper is a great way to bring environmental stewardship to life and enjoy homemade honey. With just a little knowledge and an acre of green space, you can help preserve the bee population and reap the rewards: fresh honey for your family and friends.
Beekeeping is becoming increasingly popular across Canada, with an average of 20% of Canadian beekeepers managing 80% of hives. Take part in the urban homesteading movement and become a hobbyist beekeeper with your own backyard hive or bee hotel. Help support bee populations while experiencing the satisfaction of self-sufficiency and local food.
Beekeeping is becoming a popular hobby for many and is surprisingly easy to get started. With bee suits, supers, foundations, smokers, and bees, the startup costs are typically less than $1,000. With beekeeping, there is no need to fear getting stung, since even with hundreds of thousands of bees, the occurrence of stings are rare. With the right safety equipment, you can confidently enjoy this rewarding hobby.
Hobbyist beekeeping is a complex endeavor, requiring both knowledge and skill. Newbie beekeepers can benefit from taking a course in beekeeping, as well as from guidance from an experienced mentor, who can inspect and advise as needed. This master-apprentice relationship is an integral part of successful beekeeping.
Hobbyist beekeepers will quickly discover the joys of tending their hives. With bi-monthly checkups, beekeepers can ensure the bees remain disease- and parasite-free and the queen is healthy. Observing the bees in their natural environment becomes a habit, allowing beekeepers to appreciate the wonders of nature each day.
Beekeeping is a rewarding and calming hobby that can also be considered a form of meditation. Practitioners must move slowly and deliberately, be aware of their own energy levels, and stay alert and present to interact with the buzzing hive. Through this process, beekeepers will find themselves in a profoundly moving and energizing environment.
Hobbyist beekeeping is a rewarding and sustainable way to have a positive impact on your environment. With a family hive, you can expect an average of 23 kilograms of natural honey, as well as an increase in flowering plants and fruits in your garden. Whether you’re a first-time beekeeper or you’ve been practicing for years, you’ll be amazed by the positive effect bees have on your surrounding environment.