The SASWCD held a beekeeping class this year as part of its Winter Ag School as there seems to be a growing interest in the, yes, art of beekeeping. I say art after watching my husband tend his first hive last year and the roller coaster ride he and the bees took together. And I say art because Steve Miller, who taught the class and has kept bees for 30 years and with varying degrees of success overwinters his hives in New Sweden, admits to knowing a little bit of a subject that encompasses a lot.
Honeybees are small but mighty. They not only produce honey but are responsible for the pollination of about 80 percent of the crops that we depend on for a third of our diet. They’ve also had a pretty hard go of it lately with fungal and virus diseases, mites, and the famous colony collapse disorder greatly reducing their numbers. One positive outcome of this is that there has been a resurgence of small rural and nonrural beekeepers.
One such non-rural beekeeper, my friend Cerise, tends several hives in Brooklyn, N.Y. as part of a youth gardening organization. The bees made it into a NY Times article last fall when she ended up with bright red honey. It seems that the bees were traveling to a nearby maraschino cherry factory and feasting on the juicy red runoff.
In southern Aroostook, we are more likely to experience honey flavored by raspberry, dandelion, golden rod and clover blossoms. Steve Miller of Westmanland likes to stand outside of his hive and watch the worker bees as they come back from the field to the hive. He can tell by the color of the pollen packed in their pouches what plant is in bloom.
Lauren Fitzpatrick of Houlton came to the District’s beekeeping class and told me that she became interested in starting her own hive when she began growing a large plot of pumpkins with her son Jimmy. Since she also has an herb and vegetable garden and orchard, keeping bees seemed like a natural thing for her to do. As an elementary teacher, she also teaches her class about insects and each time they discussed bees she became more fascinated. She happened to mention her growing bee fixation to her neighbor Vicki who promptly informed her that she had been having the same thoughts. The two started their first hives three years ago and both manage their hives with the goal of over-wintering them.
The theme that rang true with those who attended the beekeeping class was that everyone seems to really love their bees. Another new-to-the-art of beekeeping enthusiast is Houlton resident Steve Farrar. Steve told me that what surprised him most about his bees was the personality of the hive and learning that the bees will react to the way you are reacting. Apparently, calm is key.
Lauren’s last comment to me was that she finds beekeeping a fun and rewarding experience. What struck me was that she then added, almost as an afterthought, and oh yeah, having the honey is nice too.
The District will be hosting a beekeeping workshop in July with the state apiarist. Contact the office for more information
Editor’s note: Angie Wotton loves her work as district manager for the SASWCD. She also raises pastured pork and vegetables with her husband on their small West Berry Farm in Hammond. She can be reached 532-9407 or via e-mail at angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net.
