The Sweet Adventure of Indiana Beekeeping
It all started in May 2005 with the first two honeybee hives. Our first very modest batch of extracted honey occurred in the early autumn of 2006. We are Robert D. Bell and Marc Wiehn and are the co-owners of Mt. Carmel Apiaries in Carmel, Indiana, a small, backyard operation of currently 6 to 10 hives.
We have always appreciated gardening. Honeybee hives seemed to be the next logical step in our gardening and pollination “service” of the neighborhood especially since we were purchasing local honey for use on our natural granola and oatmeal cereals. Forget debilitating sugar – go for the honey!
Currently, we sell our honey by word-of-mouth to local friends and neighbors and through the awesome Connor Prairie Museum Store located at 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Indiana. See www.connerprairie.org
Over the years, we have educated and neighbors about the non-bothersome nature of honeybee and bumblebees. They simply want to collect pollen and nectar for their sustenance. Honeybees don’t bother us when we are eating on the deck – within 25 feet of the hives. It’s those nasty wasps, yellow jackets and hornets that go for your food and sugary drinks…thus giving honeybees an undeserved bad rap. Typically, when mowing a yard or playing in the yard, it is a paper wasp that will zip from an evergreen bush or an eve to sting a person or child. In the summertime, I often work without a shirt in the yard and never get stung unless I directly in front of a hive and they feel threatened.
For the past few years, we have taken an observation hive to a conscientious and very supportive neighbor’s 4th grade class and educated the children about honeybees. They are tentative at first due to the bad rap from wasps (that look very similar to a honeybee), however, by the end of the hour, they have grown to appreciate and embrace the honeybees. Many seeds of interest for future honey beekeeping are planted. Within their handcrafted “thank you” cards, several talk about becoming a beekeeper when they “grow up.”
In May 2009, our modest backyard beekeeping operation was featured on the front and second page of the local newspaper. The journalist did an excellent job in capturing the basic facts. An extract with pictures is provided.
It all started in May 2005 with the first two honeybee hives. Our first very modest batch of extracted honey occurred in the early autumn of 2006. We are Robert D. Bell and Marc Wiehn and are the co-owners of Mt. Carmel Apiaries in Carmel, Indiana, a small, backyard operation of currently 6 to 10 hives.
We have always appreciated gardening. Honeybee hives seemed to be the next logical step in our gardening and pollination “service” of the neighborhood especially since we were purchasing local honey for use on our natural granola and oatmeal cereals. Forget debilitating sugar – go for the honey!
Currently, we sell our honey by word-of-mouth to local friends and neighbors and through the awesome Connor Prairie Museum Store located at 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Indiana. See www.connerprairie.org
Over the years, we have educated and neighbors about the non-bothersome nature of honeybee and bumblebees. They simply want to collect pollen and nectar for their sustenance. Honeybees don’t bother us when we are eating on the deck – within 25 feet of the hives. It’s those nasty wasps, yellow jackets and hornets that go for your food and sugary drinks…thus giving honeybees an undeserved bad rap. Typically, when mowing a yard or playing in the yard, it is a paper wasp that will zip from an evergreen bush or an eve to sting a person or child. In the summertime, I often work without a shirt in the yard and never get stung unless I directly in front of a hive and they feel threatened.
For the past few years, we have taken an observation hive to a conscientious and very supportive neighbor’s 4th grade class and educated the children about honeybees. They are tentative at first due to the bad rap from wasps (that look very similar to a honeybee), however, by the end of the hour, they have grown to appreciate and embrace the honeybees. Many seeds of interest for future honey beekeeping are planted. Within their handcrafted “thank you” cards, several talk about becoming a beekeeper when they “grow up.”
In May 2009, our modest backyard beekeeping operation was featured on the front and second page of the local newspaper. The journalist did an excellent job in capturing the basic facts. An extract with pictures is provided.
Perhaps you may have an interest in starting with two beehives (recommended). If so, contact your local beekeeping club or state beekeeping association. Also, there are several commercial avenues to obtain honeybees and the myriad of supplies. Honey beekeeping is a great hobby for any sensible and responsible man or woman. The fruit of the labor is “very sweet” and the spillover knowledge and lessons-learned are amazing…
