Becoming a Beekeeper - Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper - page 6

books—new and old, serious and lighthearted. The titles included How to Plant a Bee
Garden, Beekeeping for Fun and Profit , and Biology of Honeybees, and the topics
ranged from bee rearing to bee gardening to cooking with honey. I was beginning to
realize that the topic of beekeeping stretched far and wide. I was especially attracted to
the older books with artistic etchings of bees and historic photographs of primitive bee-
hives.
I spied a beginner's topic for beekeepers; it seemed accessible and uncomplicated,
and deciding I would need all the help I could get, I grabbed it. After checking out my
newbook,Iheadedovertothesnacktabletosamplethehomemadesnacks,allofwhich
were made with local honey. Biscotti cookies, barbecue chips, nuts—it was a sticky
spreadnobleenoughforanyqueenandregallydisplayeduponabee-embroideredtable-
cloth. I indulged in a few honey-laced cookies.
Meanwhile, I overheard authentic beekeeping chitchat.
“How are your bees doing, Tom?” asked one woman.
“Two of my colonies are doing fine. They wintered over nicely. And the other
swarmed last weekend, and I never did see where they settled down.”
“Yes, it's swarm season, and we lost a couple of hives as well. Now I am looking for
a new queen for one of my hives.”
A voice came over a loudspeaker, announcing the meeting was about to begin. A
gentleman on the makeshift stage introduced himself as the president of the club. The
crowdmellowedtoaquiethumaseachbeekeeperfoundaseat.Igrabbedanotherhoney
cookie and sat in the back row with some handouts and my new book. As I looked
around,Inoticedtheaudiencewasarealmixofpeoplefromallwalksoflife.Whenever
I had heard the word “beekeeper,” I imagined an elderly man with big hands, wearing a
strawhatandcoveralls;PeterFondain Ulee's Gold immediatelycametomind.Butthis
group was full of men and women, gardeners and farmers, professionals and business
types, artists and other creative souls.
The president announced the upcoming hive inspections and the many other bee-re-
lated educational opportunities that were open to club members. All these events and
more were listed on the group's Web site. Someone in the back of the room reminded
thegrouptherewouldbeahoneyswapthateveningafterthespeaker. Honey swapping!
That was something I definitely wanted to see.
Honey Almond Biscotti