More than a hobby: Beekeeping requires resilience and dedication

Berlin, Nov. 28 (BUS): A life of beekeeping means accepting one sting a day in the busy season. This is at least the case if you want to do it without protective clothing. One expert says she’s looking forward to her debut this season.

Urban beekeeping has become increasingly popular in recent years, with colonies popping up in cities around the world, set up on rooftops, backyards and even balconies.

Technically anyone can keep bees without specific training, whether they are in a city or not, which may explain its popularity.

However, experts often recommend taking lessons or learning from experienced beekeepers first, because the time-consuming hobby comes with the responsibility of thousands of animals and requires a lot of technical knowledge and dedication.

In Germany, for example, beekeeping is also a recognized profession that involves three years of training.

Chiara Koser works as a professional beekeeper at the Chamber of Agriculture in North Rhine-Westphalia. Her job is tough and she keeps it steady, the 23-year-old explains during an interview.

The first lesson in the daily routine of a beekeeper; Every day at work is different because beekeeping involves complex and varied tasks. “On a typical summer day, we load the truck with tools and equipment early in the morning,” Kozer explains. After that, she traveled with her team to check on the bee colonies, according to the German news agency (dpa).

“We have to make sure the bees have enough space to brood, in order to prevent them from swarming. We also set up new chambers for the honey if needed, and basically check if all the colonies are working well,” says the beekeeper.

Each step must be carefully documented for the sake of her colleagues.

Although bees are active during the warm summer months, winter is still very crowded for Koeser beekeepers. “We need to prepare the bees for the winter, to make sure they have enough food,” she says.

During this time, she also handles empty combs, cleans them, and stores them to protect them from wax moths and prepares them for the next season. In addition, there is always something that needs to be fixed in the hives. Koeser also needs time to prepare for the markets where she sells honey and candles.

For Koeser, it is important to walk with the bees from one place to another – which means picking them up early in the morning and dropping them somewhere else.

It may sound odd, but the little beekeeper is also looking forward to being stung for the first time every year — which means the season has begun, she explains.

“We try to work without protective gear like a veil or gloves, simply because it allows you to get a better view and feel for the bees and the colonies.”

This means that Koeser gets stung at least once a day during the main season—”but you get used to it quickly,” she says.

The well-being of bees should always be at the center of the work of the beekeeper. Sometimes this means having to make difficult decisions very quickly.

This can be difficult at times, warns Koeser, for example, when a colony threatens to perish and is trying to control an invasion.

“You cannot evade responsibility and consequences, after all, you are the executive body of the cell,” says the expert.

Many aspiring beekeepers especially underestimate the physical effort required. “It’s a very tedious job. It involves a lot of craftsmanship as well as some cleaning work.”

Those looking to make money off their honey will also need a lot of flexibility, as it is difficult to compete with the supermarkets and the industry. “You also have to be flexible, because the job is very time consuming,” Kozer stresses.

If you are willing to put in the effort and are not intent on making a profit, beekeeping can be a rewarding way to interact with animals and the environment.

HF