Bees and honey
I'm always trying to up my gardening game. As long as I can remember we have always had a garden, but a pretty small urban garden. So, I can't grow as much as I would like. It is really important that I maximize my space and that every plant be a successful as possible.
Last year, I noticed that my zucchini blossoms were pretty, but were not giving enough fruit. I wondered what the problem was. I realized that much of it was due to lack of pollination. I know I'm not alone...I read that the bee population has decreased severely in recent decades landing some on the endangered list. Last year, I pollinated my zucchini by hand, not really efficient. This year, I decided to learn more about pollinators and their role in my garden's life cycle.
The most famous pollinator I know is the honeybee. I'm pretty versed on honeybee knowledge. I watched the movie. Seriously, they are very clean and very industrious. Everyone has a job which might vary through their lifetime. They have one queen who lays about 1000 eggs/day.........
Last year, I noticed that my zucchini blossoms were pretty, but were not giving enough fruit. I wondered what the problem was. I realized that much of it was due to lack of pollination. I know I'm not alone...I read that the bee population has decreased severely in recent decades landing some on the endangered list. Last year, I pollinated my zucchini by hand, not really efficient. This year, I decided to learn more about pollinators and their role in my garden's life cycle.
The most famous pollinator I know is the honeybee. I'm pretty versed on honeybee knowledge. I watched the movie. Seriously, they are very clean and very industrious. Everyone has a job which might vary through their lifetime. They have one queen who lays about 1000 eggs/day.........
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So, enter Naaman of The Hive. He is an amazing guy and he knows so much about bees. I went to one of his talks and taste some of the honey directly from the frames in the hive. Did you know that one hive can make over 60lb of honey/year?
I tasted honey produced in different parts of the city. This was real a honey sommelier's dream. (Is that a thing? Can you imagine people in a room swirling honey around) Anyway, depending on the diet of the bee, the flavor and color of your honey can vary a lot. It was amazing to see that Bridgeport honey is vastly different than Roscoe Village.
Pro-tip: If your honey doesn't not crystallize, it is a fake.
By fake I mean it has probably been pasteurized and lost many beneficial enzymes and health benefits that make honey amazing!! Exceptions are Manuka and Tupelo honeys. These will not crystallize. Both of which I have tasted. Both are very distinctive and you won't forget them.
By the time the talk was over, I was sold. I was sure I needed two beehives for my backyard🏽. My mother was not as sure. For now, maybe Naaman will just let me hang with him.
I tasted honey produced in different parts of the city. This was real a honey sommelier's dream. (Is that a thing? Can you imagine people in a room swirling honey around) Anyway, depending on the diet of the bee, the flavor and color of your honey can vary a lot. It was amazing to see that Bridgeport honey is vastly different than Roscoe Village.
Pro-tip: If your honey doesn't not crystallize, it is a fake.
By fake I mean it has probably been pasteurized and lost many beneficial enzymes and health benefits that make honey amazing!! Exceptions are Manuka and Tupelo honeys. These will not crystallize. Both of which I have tasted. Both are very distinctive and you won't forget them.
By the time the talk was over, I was sold. I was sure I needed two beehives for my backyard🏽. My mother was not as sure. For now, maybe Naaman will just let me hang with him.