5 Benefits to Beekeeping

It takes a certain kind of zaniness and bravery to consider being a beekeeper. Phobias of stings, swarms, and general buggy-ness must be set aside. And it seems that young women, especially those in urban areas, are those most readily able to eschew such fears in search of the golden glory of raising one's own honey. For those who can swing it, beekeeping and producing honey boasts some serious benefits.

For one, honey has long been considered healthier than sugar as a sweetener, and also exhibits some medicinal qualities. For some time now, local honey has been rumored to stave off allergies by acting similarly to a vaccine: bees collect pollen from common local allergens, which then show up in the honey they create in small amounts. Consuming this honey then boosts the body's immune system, so that later exposure to these allergens prompts a much less severe reaction. Kudos, then, to the women beekeeping in urban areas, where pollens of many types cause all kinds of allergic reactions.

Bees are increasingly important with the rise of urban and suburban farming and gardening, too. The pollinators, which have been mysteriously disappearing due to what scientists call colony collapse disorder, are essential to fruit, vegetable, and flower pollination. As the enthusiasm for homegrown and local food expands, so does the necessity for our bumbling brethren.

Already, urban apiaries are on the rise. According to some claims, urban hives create more honey than their rural counterparts. As Change.org blogger David Orr pointed out a few months back, New York City lifted its ban on bees to allow space for budding beekeepers. And cities around the world have also caught the bug, so to speak. The London Telegraph implored its readers to adopt a hive as part of its Bring Back Bees campaign; 353 readers responded within a week. And in Tokyo, organic honey not only benefits local consumers, it also offers insight into how damaging pesticides can be to insects that are essential to food production.

Apparently, if you have just a little yard space and a modicum of courage, you too can keep bees.  Check out the American Beekeeping Federation for advice on how to get started.

Photo via bwhohack