May 20 is known as World Bee Day. So what’s the buzz about beekeeping?

Beekeeping has been around for many centuries. The ancient Egyptians admired honeybees as messengers from the gods, and there are many hieroglyphs of bees, honey, and beekeepers on record. Honey was worshiped for its healing attributes and called the “nectar of the gods.” 

Today there are nearly 212,000 beekeepers in the United States alone, myself being one of them. One month ago, my husband and I registered our farm,  Barefoot Holler Farm, with the department of Agriculture and began our exciting adventure of keeping bees.

For us, there were several different reasons why we started this venture. We were given the farmland by my father on our wedding day two years ago and wanted to use it for something in his honor. Unfortunately we both have full time jobs, kids, and bills to pay that keep us from full time farming, but thankfully beekeeping can be pretty low maintenance and inexpensive compared to other agricultural pursuits. 

If I had to guess, you are still reading this article because you are interested in becoming a beekeeper yourself. Here’s a few more reasons why you definitely should pull the trigger:

Stress Relief 

There are many positive benefits to beekeeping. It’s been said that beekeepers will live longer lives due to their relaxed state while they are working with the bees. When bees are doing their job flying around and pollinating flowers, they absorb energy from the sun, and they radiate their healing frequencies to humans. The human brain can tune into these sounds for an overall calming effect. Some therapists have used apitherapy sessions on mindfulness and distress tolerance. There are also several successful beekeeping programs for veterans that have proven to increase their overall well-being.

Honey

Not only do bees give off good vibes, but they are also the only insect that makes food edible by humans. The delicious golden honey contains many nutrients and antioxidants that help with heart and cardiovascular health, allergies, coughs, sore throats, and skin conditions. Honey can boost your immunity and enhances digestion. Two tablespoons of local raw honey daily can make a huge difference in your health. Honey can also be a great way to make some extra income. It can be sold around $1 an ounce in most places. 

Save the World 

Bees are essential to our planet. They are responsible for helping grow one third of the food we eat. Pollinating crops like apples, melons, cranberries, pumpkins, squash, broccoli, almonds, and coffee. (I bet you didn't know bees play their part in your morning trip to Starbucks.) In the past few decades, there has been a drop in the bee population due to urbanization and pesticides, which has caused a rise in the beekeeping community. Individual bee farmers quite literally could help save the food supply chain. 

Bees embody focus, dedication, hard work, teamwork, generosity, and prosperity. Everyone should embrace the essence of the honey bee. Just think of how our lives and the world around us would bloom. 

‍