What is Beekeeping?

Beekeeping is a practice as old as humanity itself; on this page, you can find a cave painting from Valencia, Spain, depicting what appears to be a man holding a basket used to collect honey. The first “domesticated’ bees were kept in woven hives called skeps, which were destroyed when the honey was collected. We have come far since those days, with innovations like the Langstroth hive allowing beekeepers to manage their hives without tearing them apart, as well as providing standardization of equipment.

Honey bees are absolutely fascinating, with their interconnected social system and complex hive construction. A true hive mind, no bee makes individual decisions for itself; the hive is an organism all its own. From continent to continent, species to species, the honey bee has a wide range of behaviors and characteristics. The differences between Apis Mellifera (western honey bee) and Apis Dorsata (giant honey bee) may surprise you.

Unfortunately, honey bees are suffering across much of their range in the United States. Between widespread pesticides, parasites, and diseases, it is very difficult for a colony to survive on its own. At Pot of Gold Apiaries, we are committed to sustainable, long-term solutions for the health of our bees. To tend bees well, we must understand them, and this is our goal.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for your support of our business.