some of you might have noticed the Beehive
Beehive
Beehive as a public service announcement I
as a public service announcement I
as a public service announcement I recommend to make the day go smoother
recommend to make the day go smoother
recommend to make the day go smoother let’s just not wake them up okay it’s a
let’s just not wake them up okay it’s a
let’s just not wake them up okay it’s a joke it’s a prop as far as you know what
joke it’s a prop as far as you know what
joke it’s a prop as far as you know what we have here is three pounds of pure
we have here is three pounds of pure
we have here is three pounds of pure local honey one quart of a precious
local honey one quart of a precious
local honey one quart of a precious substance that naturally Ward’s off
substance that naturally Ward’s off
substance that naturally Ward’s off infection provides allergy relief and
infection provides allergy relief and
infection provides allergy relief and generally boosts the immune system not
generally boosts the immune system not
generally boosts the immune system not to mention taste great on biscuits it’s
to mention taste great on biscuits it’s
to mention taste great on biscuits it’s made mostly from plant nectar with a
made mostly from plant nectar with a
made mostly from plant nectar with a dash of pollen in bee enzymes and is
dash of pollen in bee enzymes and is
dash of pollen in bee enzymes and is thickened through evaporation with the
thickened through evaporation with the
thickened through evaporation with the help of countless flapping bee wings it
help of countless flapping bee wings it
help of countless flapping bee wings it takes 12 bees their entire lives just to
takes 12 bees their entire lives just to
takes 12 bees their entire lives just to make one teaspoon of it yeah which means
make one teaspoon of it yeah which means
make one teaspoon of it yeah which means this jar represents the life’s work of
this jar represents the life’s work of
this jar represents the life’s work of 2,300 bees traveling a hundred and
2,300 bees traveling a hundred and
2,300 bees traveling a hundred and sixty-five thousand miles to visit six
sixty-five thousand miles to visit six
sixty-five thousand miles to visit six million flowers six million flowers that
million flowers six million flowers that
million flowers six million flowers that because of their visit have the
because of their visit have the
because of their visit have the potential to become food for life as we
potential to become food for life as we
potential to become food for life as we know it and a healthy hive can produce
know it and a healthy hive can produce
know it and a healthy hive can produce 20 to 30 of these a year sounds like a
20 to 30 of these a year sounds like a
20 to 30 of these a year sounds like a lot of hard work doesn’t it and it is
lot of hard work doesn’t it and it is
lot of hard work doesn’t it and it is for the bees but not necessarily for the
for the bees but not necessarily for the
for the bees but not necessarily for the beekeeper I hope that after you hear how
beekeeper I hope that after you hear how
beekeeper I hope that after you hear how relatively easy it is to keep honey bees
relatively easy it is to keep honey bees
relatively easy it is to keep honey bees you’ll go out and start your own
you’ll go out and start your own
you’ll go out and start your own household hive not just to reap the
household hive not just to reap the
household hive not just to reap the physical benefits of it but also the
physical benefits of it but also the
physical benefits of it but also the intrinsic rewards that include having
intrinsic rewards that include having
intrinsic rewards that include having the peace of mind of knowing that you
the peace of mind of knowing that you
the peace of mind of knowing that you are taking an active role in the
are taking an active role in the
are taking an active role in the custodianship of this amazing species
custodianship of this amazing species
custodianship of this amazing species and our spectacular planet I’m not
and our spectacular planet I’m not
and our spectacular planet I’m not exaggerating when I say that you can
exaggerating when I say that you can
exaggerating when I say that you can help the world by keeping bees to start
help the world by keeping bees to start
help the world by keeping bees to start let’s get to know the hive think of the
let’s get to know the hive think of the
let’s get to know the hive think of the bee hive as a super organism known as a
bee hive as a super organism known as a
bee hive as a super organism known as a colony made up of individuals that
colony made up of individuals that
colony made up of individuals that probably wouldn’t survive very long on
probably wouldn’t survive very long on
probably wouldn’t survive very long on their own
their own
their own who work together and highly specialized
who work together and highly specialized
who work together and highly specialized divisions of labour to create a
divisions of labour to create a
divisions of labour to create a surviving entity that lives and breathes
surviving entity that lives and breathes
surviving entity that lives and breathes and reproduces and creates and of course
and reproduces and creates and of course
and reproduces and creates and of course can die if it gets sick it’s the job of
can die if it gets sick it’s the job of
can die if it gets sick it’s the job of the beekeeper as custodian to make sure
the beekeeper as custodian to make sure
the beekeeper as custodian to make sure this entity is healthy and thriving and
this entity is healthy and thriving and
this entity is healthy and thriving and has every chance to live a long and
has every chance to live a long and
has every chance to live a long and fruitful life having a strong hive is
fruitful life having a strong hive is
fruitful life having a strong hive is not just about stealing what surplus it
not just about stealing what surplus it
not just about stealing what surplus it makes for our own use but more
makes for our own use but more
makes for our own use but more importantly maintaining a delicate cog
importantly maintaining a delicate cog
importantly maintaining a delicate cog in the engine of the ecosystem to do
in the engine of the ecosystem to do
in the engine of the ecosystem to do what it’s supposed to do now each hive
what it’s supposed to do now each hive
what it’s supposed to do now each hive contains a single egg-laying Queen
contains a single egg-laying Queen
contains a single egg-laying Queen hundreds of male drones and perhaps 20
hundreds of male drones and perhaps 20
hundreds of male drones and perhaps 20 to 80,000 female worker bees their jobs
to 80,000 female worker bees their jobs
to 80,000 female worker bees their jobs are separate and distinct the Queen she
are separate and distinct the Queen she
are separate and distinct the Queen she lays the eggs to maintain the population
lays the eggs to maintain the population
lays the eggs to maintain the population of the hive the male drones are there
of the hive the male drones are there
of the hive the male drones are there just to mate that’s all they do they
just to mate that’s all they do they
just to mate that’s all they do they don’t even have stingers basically they
don’t even have stingers basically they
don’t even have stingers basically they lay around the hive apartment all day
lay around the hive apartment all day
lay around the hive apartment all day eating up everything in the fridge
eating up everything in the fridge
eating up everything in the fridge waiting for the opportunity to mate with
waiting for the opportunity to mate with
waiting for the opportunity to mate with some future virgin queen and the
some future virgin queen and the
some future virgin queen and the remaining thousands of female worker
remaining thousands of female worker
remaining thousands of female worker bees well they do everything else my
bees well they do everything else my
bees well they do everything else my wife would say this makes them more like
wife would say this makes them more like
wife would say this makes them more like humans than we’re willing to admit but
humans than we’re willing to admit but
humans than we’re willing to admit but those female worker bees are in charge
those female worker bees are in charge
those female worker bees are in charge of hive construction repair cleaning
of hive construction repair cleaning
of hive construction repair cleaning defense rearing of the young foraging
defense rearing of the young foraging
defense rearing of the young foraging for nectar and pollen and of course
for nectar and pollen and of course
for nectar and pollen and of course making honey if all goes well together
making honey if all goes well together
making honey if all goes well together they form this super organism that’s
they form this super organism that’s
they form this super organism that’s primary purpose is to facilitate the
primary purpose is to facilitate the
primary purpose is to facilitate the exchange of pollen between plants that
exchange of pollen between plants that
exchange of pollen between plants that is necessary to keep our planet alive
is necessary to keep our planet alive
is necessary to keep our planet alive thousands of years ago we humans
thousands of years ago we humans
thousands of years ago we humans discover there were byproducts to this
discover there were byproducts to this
discover there were byproducts to this primary purpose such as honey wax and
primary purpose such as honey wax and
primary purpose such as honey wax and improved health
improved health
improved health the honey is food need i say more
the honey is food need i say more
the honey is food need i say more the wax can be used for so much more
the wax can be used for so much more
the wax can be used for so much more than the traditional beeswax candles it
than the traditional beeswax candles it
than the traditional beeswax candles it can be used as a key ingredient in point
can be used as a key ingredient in point
can be used as a key ingredient in point Minh that will offer itch relief and
Minh that will offer itch relief and
Minh that will offer itch relief and pain relief it can be used in lip balm
pain relief it can be used in lip balm
pain relief it can be used in lip balm beard balm I’m using some right now this
beard balm I’m using some right now this
beard balm I’m using some right now this thing would poke your eyes out if it
thing would poke your eyes out if it
thing would poke your eyes out if it wasn’t for beeswax did you think I’m
wasn’t for beeswax did you think I’m
wasn’t for beeswax did you think I’m joking beeswax can also be used in your
joking beeswax can also be used in your
joking beeswax can also be used in your cooking it can give your pastry crust
cooking it can give your pastry crust
cooking it can give your pastry crust that extra crunch and it can be used
that extra crunch and it can be used
that extra crunch and it can be used around the home like if you have a
around the home like if you have a
around the home like if you have a tenacious drawer that sticks when you
tenacious drawer that sticks when you
tenacious drawer that sticks when you try to open it I think we’ve all got one
try to open it I think we’ve all got one
try to open it I think we’ve all got one of those all you have to do is wipe some
of those all you have to do is wipe some
of those all you have to do is wipe some beeswax along the wood runner and voila
beeswax along the wood runner and voila
beeswax along the wood runner and voila it slides easily in and out you will
it slides easily in and out you will
it slides easily in and out you will never break a nail or sprain a finger
never break a nail or sprain a finger
never break a nail or sprain a finger trying to get to a pair of socks ever
trying to get to a pair of socks ever
trying to get to a pair of socks ever again I speak from experience so what
again I speak from experience so what
again I speak from experience so what about me improved health when you
about me improved health when you
about me improved health when you consume honey you’re ingesting trace
consume honey you’re ingesting trace
consume honey you’re ingesting trace amounts of local plant pollen that same
amounts of local plant pollen that same
amounts of local plant pollen that same kind of pollen that wreak such havoc on
kind of pollen that wreak such havoc on
kind of pollen that wreak such havoc on your system during different parts of
your system during different parts of
your system during different parts of the year you eat enough of it
the year you eat enough of it
the year you eat enough of it consistently and you’ll build up a
consistently and you’ll build up a
consistently and you’ll build up a resistance to those pollens and decrease
resistance to those pollens and decrease
resistance to those pollens and decrease the severity of your allergy symptoms if
the severity of your allergy symptoms if
the severity of your allergy symptoms if not get rid of them altogether excuse me
not get rid of them altogether excuse me
not get rid of them altogether excuse me now this is probably a good time to talk
now this is probably a good time to talk
now this is probably a good time to talk about that one allergy that some of you
about that one allergy that some of you
about that one allergy that some of you think might disqualify you from
think might disqualify you from
think might disqualify you from beekeeping being allergic to bee stings
beekeeping being allergic to bee stings
beekeeping being allergic to bee stings any bee sting alergies out here well we
any bee sting alergies out here well we
any bee sting alergies out here well we have to understand that honey bees don’t
have to understand that honey bees don’t
have to understand that honey bees don’t like to sting they can only sting once
like to sting they can only sting once
like to sting they can only sting once in their lives they die right after they
in their lives they die right after they
in their lives they die right after they lose their sting after they use it so
lose their sting after they use it so
lose their sting after they use it so they are very hesitant to waste that
they are very hesitant to waste that
they are very hesitant to waste that sting that sting wastes their lives on
sting that sting wastes their lives on
sting that sting wastes their lives on something that’s not a direct threat to
something that’s not a direct threat to
something that’s not a direct threat to the hive so basically if you play nice
the hive so basically if you play nice
the hive so basically if you play nice they’ll play nice as well but no matter
they’ll play nice as well but no matter
they’ll play nice as well but no matter how careful you are there’s always a
how careful you are there’s always a
how careful you are there’s always a chance that you’re going to get stung so
chance that you’re going to get stung so
chance that you’re going to get stung so for you people who are lethally allergic
for you people who are lethally allergic
for you people who are lethally allergic to bee stings it’s it’s very important
to bee stings it’s it’s very important
to bee stings it’s it’s very important that you take the special precautions
that you take the special precautions
that you take the special precautions wearing the right protective gear having
wearing the right protective gear having
wearing the right protective gear having an EpiPen and having an emergency plan
an EpiPen and having an emergency plan
an EpiPen and having an emergency plan just in case you have to weigh the risks
just in case you have to weigh the risks
just in case you have to weigh the risks but they are manageable so I didn’t want
but they are manageable so I didn’t want
but they are manageable so I didn’t want you to think that you had to give up the
you to think that you had to give up the
you to think that you had to give up the idea totally but before I scare you away
idea totally but before I scare you away
idea totally but before I scare you away let’s move on how about improved health
let’s move on how about improved health
let’s move on how about improved health on a larger scale on a global scale
on a larger scale on a global scale
on a larger scale on a global scale now when honeybees collect the nectar
now when honeybees collect the nectar
now when honeybees collect the nectar and pollen that is necessary to keep
and pollen that is necessary to keep
and pollen that is necessary to keep their planet alive they inadvertently
their planet alive they inadvertently
their planet alive they inadvertently pollinate plants plant pollination is
pollinate plants plant pollination is
pollinate plants plant pollination is vital for ecosystems around the globe
vital for ecosystems around the globe
vital for ecosystems around the globe and results in not just more food for us
and results in not just more food for us
and results in not just more food for us humans but more food for all the animals
humans but more food for all the animals
humans but more food for all the animals down the food chain
down the food chain
down the food chain it is estimated that one out of every
it is estimated that one out of every
it is estimated that one out of every three bites of food we eat can be
three bites of food we eat can be
three bites of food we eat can be directly attributed to pollinators like
directly attributed to pollinators like
directly attributed to pollinators like the honeybees and almost all of our food
the honeybees and almost all of our food
the honeybees and almost all of our food can be connected to them indirectly this
can be connected to them indirectly this
can be connected to them indirectly this is supported by scientists so I’m not
is supported by scientists so I’m not
is supported by scientists so I’m not making it up scientists who have studied
making it up scientists who have studied
making it up scientists who have studied prop yields and find that there is a
prop yields and find that there is a
prop yields and find that there is a significantly greater growth in plants
significantly greater growth in plants
significantly greater growth in plants when in proximity to a beehive sometimes
when in proximity to a beehive sometimes
when in proximity to a beehive sometimes as much as 70% higher than those that
as much as 70% higher than those that
as much as 70% higher than those that are so this would be true of your
are so this would be true of your
are so this would be true of your backyard garden as well the bottom line
backyard garden as well the bottom line
backyard garden as well the bottom line is the more bees there are the more food
is the more bees there are the more food
is the more bees there are the more food there is
steal a couple out of here should drink
steal a couple out of here should drink the honey so if these physical benefits
the honey so if these physical benefits
the honey so if these physical benefits aren’t enough to get you to go out and
aren’t enough to get you to go out and
aren’t enough to get you to go out and start your own hive and save the world
start your own hive and save the world
start your own hive and save the world maybe some of the intrinsic rewards will
maybe some of the intrinsic rewards will
maybe some of the intrinsic rewards will tip the scales now folks we live in a
tip the scales now folks we live in a
tip the scales now folks we live in a fast and furious world and in our
fast and furious world and in our
fast and furious world and in our attempt to keep up with the
attempt to keep up with the
attempt to keep up with the ever-increasing pace of life we
ever-increasing pace of life we
ever-increasing pace of life we experience heightened levels of anxiety
experience heightened levels of anxiety
experience heightened levels of anxiety frustration and distraction these are
frustration and distraction these are
frustration and distraction these are important things that we need to avoid
important things that we need to avoid
important things that we need to avoid they can be mitigated by beekeeping when
they can be mitigated by beekeeping when
they can be mitigated by beekeeping when a beekeeper works a hive whether it’s in
a beekeeper works a hive whether it’s in
a beekeeper works a hive whether it’s in maintaining planning inspecting for
maintaining planning inspecting for
maintaining planning inspecting for health and and production beekeepers
health and and production beekeepers
health and and production beekeepers experience higher levels of focus and
experience higher levels of focus and
experience higher levels of focus and attention a calm mind and deliberate
attention a calm mind and deliberate
attention a calm mind and deliberate movements are important for working a
movements are important for working a
movements are important for working a bee hive it’s very meditative I would
bee hive it’s very meditative I would
bee hive it’s very meditative I would say that it’s a kind of meditation and
say that it’s a kind of meditation and
say that it’s a kind of meditation and good for the mind and as Sir Paul
good for the mind and as Sir Paul
good for the mind and as Sir Paul McCartney once said meditation is a
McCartney once said meditation is a
McCartney once said meditation is a lifelong gift it’s something we can call
lifelong gift it’s something we can call
lifelong gift it’s something we can call on and anytime and even though he didn’t
on and anytime and even though he didn’t
on and anytime and even though he didn’t technically write a song about Medicaid
technically write a song about Medicaid
technically write a song about Medicaid of meditation he was a Beatle and I
of meditation he was a Beatle and I
of meditation he was a Beatle and I think you Beatle fans would agree that
think you Beatle fans would agree that
think you Beatle fans would agree that that puts his opinion on such matters as
that puts his opinion on such matters as
that puts his opinion on such matters as high as the Dalai Lama so how do you get
high as the Dalai Lama so how do you get
high as the Dalai Lama so how do you get started on the road of a household hive
started on the road of a household hive
started on the road of a household hive and the Zen of beekeeping I suggest you
and the Zen of beekeeping I suggest you
and the Zen of beekeeping I suggest you reach out to your local beekeepers
reach out to your local beekeepers
reach out to your local beekeepers association there’s hundreds of them
association there’s hundreds of them
association there’s hundreds of them around the country we have a very active
around the country we have a very active
around the country we have a very active and helpful Beekeepers Association right
and helpful Beekeepers Association right
and helpful Beekeepers Association right here in the Holland area called
here in the Holland area called
here in the Holland area called strangely enough the Holland area bee
strangely enough the Holland area bee
strangely enough the Holland area bee keepers Association shouldn’t be too
keepers Association shouldn’t be too
keepers Association shouldn’t be too hard to google but a bee keepers
hard to google but a bee keepers
hard to google but a bee keepers Association is a great source for
Association is a great source for
Association is a great source for answering questions finding Mentors
answering questions finding Mentors
answering questions finding Mentors gaining education and locating the
gaining education and locating the
gaining education and locating the closest supplies and support they might
closest supplies and support they might
closest supplies and support they might tell you what types of hive to use where
tell you what types of hive to use where
tell you what types of hive to use where to put them
to put them
to put them they can also give you reasonable
they can also give you reasonable
they can also give you reasonable expectations of your beekeeping
expectations of your beekeeping
expectations of your beekeeping experience clue you in to the details
experience clue you in to the details
experience clue you in to the details and the hard stuff one of the things
and the hard stuff one of the things
and the hard stuff one of the things they might do as far as the styles of
they might do as far as the styles of
they might do as far as the styles of hives they might suggest up top bar hive
hives they might suggest up top bar hive
hives they might suggest up top bar hive or a Langstroth hive these are probably
or a Langstroth hive these are probably
or a Langstroth hive these are probably the two most popular types of highs when
the two most popular types of highs when
the two most popular types of highs when it comes to household beekeeping the top
it comes to household beekeeping the top
it comes to household beekeeping the top bar hive but when you see up here on the
bar hive but when you see up here on the
bar hive but when you see up here on the left is cheaper and easier to build
left is cheaper and easier to build
left is cheaper and easier to build yourself it’s less invasive on the bees
yourself it’s less invasive on the bees
yourself it’s less invasive on the bees and it’s probably better for people that
and it’s probably better for people that
and it’s probably better for people that have like physical lifting requirements
have like physical lifting requirements
have like physical lifting requirements or restrictions the Langstroth hive the
or restrictions the Langstroth hive the
or restrictions the Langstroth hive the one you see on the right the one down
one you see on the right the one down
one you see on the right the one down here full of crazy bees is offering it
here full of crazy bees is offering it
here full of crazy bees is offering it to nough teas for more honey production
to nough teas for more honey production
to nough teas for more honey production more manageable options to actually work
more manageable options to actually work
more manageable options to actually work the hive and probably better
the hive and probably better
the hive and probably better accessibility to components and supplies
accessibility to components and supplies
accessibility to components and supplies an association can also tell you where
an association can also tell you where
an association can also tell you where you can and should keep bees now
you can and should keep bees now
you can and should keep bees now household beekeeping can be done
household beekeeping can be done
household beekeeping can be done anywhere it doesn’t make a difference if
anywhere it doesn’t make a difference if
anywhere it doesn’t make a difference if you live in the country and the suburbs
you live in the country and the suburbs
you live in the country and the suburbs or even in a busy city an association
or even in a busy city an association
or even in a busy city an association can tell you about possible local
can tell you about possible local
can tell you about possible local ordinances that might restrict your
ordinances that might restrict your
ordinances that might restrict your beekeeping and they can even even give
beekeeping and they can even even give
beekeeping and they can even even give you like alternative locations to keep
you like alternative locations to keep
you like alternative locations to keep them if those restrictions exist but
them if those restrictions exist but
them if those restrictions exist but remember local ordinances can be changed
remember local ordinances can be changed
remember local ordinances can be changed if enough people want them to change so
if enough people want them to change so
if enough people want them to change so regardless of what type of hive you get
regardless of what type of hive you get
regardless of what type of hive you get where you decide to put it once you
where you decide to put it once you
where you decide to put it once you factor in the initial cost of the hive
factor in the initial cost of the hive
factor in the initial cost of the hive necessary equipment and of course the
necessary equipment and of course the
necessary equipment and of course the bees you can probably get into household
bees you can probably get into household
bees you can probably get into household beekeeping for less than five hundred
beekeeping for less than five hundred
beekeeping for less than five hundred dollars and after that you’re probably
dollars and after that you’re probably
dollars and after that you’re probably looking at a minimal annual expense and
looking at a minimal annual expense and
looking at a minimal annual expense and probably an investment of time of as
probably an investment of time of as
probably an investment of time of as little as one hour per week per hive I
little as one hour per week per hive I
little as one hour per week per hive I mean we’re talking that’s something that
mean we’re talking that’s something that
mean we’re talking that’s something that you can handle over a lunch break so
you can handle over a lunch break so
you can handle over a lunch break so let’s take a moment to imagine a future
let’s take a moment to imagine a future
let’s take a moment to imagine a future where everyone is keeping a household
where everyone is keeping a household
where everyone is keeping a household hive and plans for it like they would
hive and plans for it like they would
hive and plans for it like they would any other home appliance or accessory
any other home appliance or accessory
any other home appliance or accessory the bees are working hard buzzing
the bees are working hard buzzing
the bees are working hard buzzing happily through the air I got picture
happily through the air I got picture
happily through the air I got picture I’m right there doing it the honey they
I’m right there doing it the honey they
I’m right there doing it the honey they produce has replaced all your need for
produce has replaced all your need for
produce has replaced all your need for sugar in your diet children are dancing
sugar in your diet children are dancing
sugar in your diet children are dancing barefoot in the tall grass
barefoot in the tall grass
barefoot in the tall grass [Music]
[Music]
[Music] munching enthusiastically on their honey
munching enthusiastically on their honey
munching enthusiastically on their honey cookies your garden is packed full its
cookies your garden is packed full its
cookies your garden is packed full its huge it’s producing Tomatoes the size of
huge it’s producing Tomatoes the size of
huge it’s producing Tomatoes the size of your head ears of corn as long as your
your head ears of corn as long as your
your head ears of corn as long as your arm
arm
arm butterflies fill the sky like a
butterflies fill the sky like a
butterflies fill the sky like a Technicolor stormfront war and disease
Technicolor stormfront war and disease
Technicolor stormfront war and disease have been eradicated chickadees and
have been eradicated chickadees and
have been eradicated chickadees and whippoorwills land on your shoulders and
whippoorwills land on your shoulders and
whippoorwills land on your shoulders and sing classical music are you with me
sing classical music are you with me
sing classical music are you with me yeah I feel it too
all right some of it’s a fantasy some is
all right some of it’s a fantasy some is a fantasy but the reality of a future of
a fantasy but the reality of a future of
a fantasy but the reality of a future of household beekeeping
household beekeeping
household beekeeping is still a very cool thing and that
is still a very cool thing and that
is still a very cool thing and that reality looks like this more food
reality looks like this more food
reality looks like this more food healthier lives and a healthier planet
healthier lives and a healthier planet
healthier lives and a healthier planet remember you can help the world by
remember you can help the world by
remember you can help the world by keeping bees thank you very much
keeping bees thank you very much
keeping bees thank you very much [Applause]
”
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