Honey Bees Beekeeping 101
If you are looking for a truly gratifying and satisfying activity, try your hand at beekeeping. Not only does the beekeeper have the benefit of pollination of any nearby gardens, they are also able to enjoy delicious honey. Learn more about honey bees beekeeping at one website.
The truth behind the phrase “busy as a bee” can definitely be seen in beekeeping. Did you know that because of all the hard work they do going back and forth from the hive to bring nectar for making honey, bees will actually wear their wings out after only 35 days into their lives and then they just die? The honey is stored to be used as food during the off-season when the flowers are no longer in bloom. If it is a good season with a lot of nectar producing flowers, the bees are able to collect a lot of nectar and they end up making much more honey than they could ever eat by themselves. The beekeepers are then able to harvest a good amount of honey to use for themselves or to sell for profit.
It is possible for beekeepers to profit from the honey that their bees are producing by selling two different types of honey. The first type is liquid honey, which can be extracted easily from the hive. Beekeepers are able to remove it from the honey combs by the use of centrifuge equipment. In the industry these centrifuge machines are known as extractors. The second type of honey that can be sold for profit is actual pieces of the honey comb. The original wax combs that the bees make that are filled with honey are what is known as comb honey. While it can’t be as easily used to stir into tea or use in a cooking recipe, many prefer this type of honey because it is very pure and natural in flavor.
It is not widely known that honey comes in lots of different colors and flavors. Different flowers have different scents. So it is the nectar itself that changes the taste, smell and color of the honey that is produced. Soil chemistry is another thing that determines how honey tastes and looks. More vital info on beekeeping guide all in one place.
Honey that is made from the nectar of alfalfa which grows in drier, alkali soil, may vary from white to clear. On the other hand, honey that is made from the nectar of buckwheat which grows in more acidic soils tens to be very dark. Plus, the quality of the honey comb that the bees make is a factor in the color and taste of honey. As far as colors go, honey can be the typical golden or sometimes even red, green or purple in color.
If you are going to get involved in beekeeping or honey processing, it is important to know all the state or federal regulations that are involved for the handling of food products, labeling and processing of the honey or other bee-related products. It is a real business and local governments may vary in the guidelines that they have set up regarding beekeeping in the area. You must also investigate various strategies for marketing and selling your honey and other bee products.