When are you going to have honey?

Most people keep bees for the honey. Throughout the history of mankind, honey has been highly regarded as a valuable commodity. So, of course, as soon as people find out that we have honeybees on the ranch they ask, “when are you going to have honey?”

Honeybees are the only insects that produce a food consumed by humans. Known for their role in pollination, bees also play a crucial role in honey production. Honeybees collect nectar from flowers and transform it into honey through a process of regurgitation and evaporation. Honey is a sweet and nutritious substance that has been enjoyed by humans for thousands of years and serves as a natural ingredient in various culinary creations.

During our first year beekeeping, we have learned this practice is like farming. The honey yield depends on a strong colony of bees and warm sunny days with ample rain, lots of flowers, and a great nectar flow. If you are a follower of this Farm Journal you know that our summer set records for the hottest days on record and our fields suffered from drought.

Despite Mother Nature not cooperating with our goals, we were able to intervene and help our our two hives become strong – through watering and feeding. However, the two colonies did not have the opportunity to benefit from a full season of foraging – because they were established mid-Spring. They also have not built up to their maximum population. This means that all the honey they have stored they need to survive the winter.

Though we are disappointed to not have anything to show for our first year of beekeeping, just wait until next year. Similar to the summer zucchini harvest, everyone will be tired of us asking if they need honey.