Mom and Dad have many interests. Ballet, horsemanship, theatre, knitting, Native American art, computer programming (for fun), vinting, we even went through a sort of lumber jack phase. Well, their most recent interest is bound to be tastier. They’re considering becoming bee keepers.
It all started with the crab apple tree. When it’s blooming, it’s absolutely covered in bees. Plus, the springtime wildflower display in our pastures (which somehow have somehow survived all the previous owners as intact, native grassland) is impressive. So, this weekend, they filled in some of our berm spaces with other butterfly and honeybee favorites.
I’ve mentioned before that EVERY activity on the ranch requires the tractor, right?
We have no experience with beekeeping, so I don’t anticipate that they will materialize this year. But, heck, we had no experience with alpacas or handspinning two years ago, and look at us now!
Verbena are sweet little plants. I love them.
As a wonderful side effect, consuming honey from bees in your area actual reduces allergies. The small amounts of pollen in the honey help you build tolerance for local allergens.
Thank goodness Whisper was there to help out.
Needless to say, I’m encouraging this interest.
Cliff House Alpacas 
That is so true about the allergies. We always take honey in our diet to help with that one. Two out of the five of us have allergy problems and now we have the little grandson, I’m giving him honey in his porridge too. I shall look forward to reading more about the bee keeping in the future.
My parents just started beekeeping this year! They have 2 hives in their residential neighborhood and they love it. My dad took a class at the local community college to educate himself and goes to the local bee keeping association meetings now.
That’s awesome! I’m not sure we really need another commitment, but it sounds like it’s not too much work, and I’m totally in favor of edible products. I wonder if I could talk Mom or Dad into taking a course about beekeeping? That’d be a great help in getting started, I’m sure!
be forewarned- your parents may start spending time just sitting and watching the bees go in/out of the hive- I haven’t seen it personally but my sister says my parents are getting a little “bee crazy”!