Beekeeping 101

 Kelley McLaughlin

Bees are taking over. Burt loves them, they swarmed the big screen in their self-titled movie, and thanks to a best-selling novel we all know their secrets. Bees didn’t get to where they are today, though, without a little help from their keepers.

In fact, much of this help comes from right here in North Carolina, which leads the country in hobbyist beekeepers. Wake and Johnston counties lend a helping hand via their own beekeeping associations; Wake’s is the largest local beekeeping association in the state.

With summer upon us, there is no better time to get outdoors, enjoy the sunshine and join the beekeeping effort — or at least learn more about it.

Beekeeping was introduced in America more than a century ago, yet aside from the distinct and delicious taste of honey, it still remains a mystery to the average person.

The bee hive that has been adopted nationwide is called the Langstroth hive. It has a standard four-part structure and can hold up to 10 frames of comb. This comb, commonly known as honeycomb, is a mass of wax made up of hexagonal cells created by bees to store their larvae, honey and pollen.

“It’s an accepted practice of beekeeping to use that standard hive. Just about everybody uses it,” said Ricky Barbour, vice president of the Wake County Beekeeping Association.

Once the beehive is set up and the bees are placed inside, the bees must be fed before they can get to work. Sugar water is the food of choice because with its ratio of a pound of sugar to a pound of water, it provides ample carbohydrates.

“They’ll use that sugar water to build their carbohydrates up and they secrete the wax that draws the comb out. After they’ve gotten it out they’ll start gathering nectar and pollen and putting it back into the hive,” said Barbour. “What they’re doing is storing food for the winter.”


 

While the bees want this food for storage, the beekeeper wants it for a tastier reason —honey. Timing is everything when “robbing the honey” from the hive, as Barbour describes it.

“We have to wait for the bees to do what’s called ‘capping over the honey,’” said Barbour. “The bees actually dry the honey out. If you take the honey off before the bees have it ready, you stand a good chance of having it ferment in the jar. (The bees) will fan the honey with their wings to get the moisture out.”

At this point, the honey is ready to be jarred, sold and enjoyed. Many hobbyist beekeepers also keep their honey local. Some association members give their honey to family and friends, while others sell it at farmers markets around town.

“If you get one good customer, they’ll come back,” said Jerry Brantley, a member of the Wake County association, on selling his honey.

Brantley grew up learning about bees from his uncle and has been a beekeeper for 50 years. He tends to his 12 hives from his home in Zebulon.

“I’ve got my bees in my backyard. I’m handicapped so I roll out there every day except when it’s real bad weather,” said Brantley. “I just love seeing them coming and going, totin’ that pollen.”

Along with his daily check-ups to the hives, he dedicates much of his time to beekeeping through the Wake County Beekeeping Association, which offers beekeeping classes, a mentor program and community service work through the National Beekeeping Program at N.C. State University.

When it comes to sharing his passion for bees with others, Brantley sees only one way to do it: “You need to come and get in front of a hive and see the work of bees.”

For more information, visit www.wakecountybeekeepers.org or www.jocobee.org.