NOTES FROM A BEEKEEPER
H
oneybees never cease to amaze Mike Poe, a pastor and beekeeper who runs Baby Bee
Apiaries, which manages 60 hives across central PA. “I was fascinated by them even as a kid,” he says, “and there’s still so much I’ve yet to learn.” One thing he discovered: how important bees are to humans, not just for their honey but for their role in our food supply and our natural world. According to the National Honey
Board®, a third of the world’s food supply wouldn’t exist without insect pollinators like bees. Bees are also one of the most efficient and environmentally-friendly ways to grow food on a large scale—no extra chemicals or big machinery needed. Besides crops, bees help pollinate the trees, fields, and gardens that are home to hundreds of other species. As much as people need bees, they need us even more. Threats like climate change and a pest called the varroa mite can destroy otherwise healthy hives. “My main goal is for the hives to thrive—the honey is really a bonus,” Poe says. The National Honey Board® funds research to give Poe and other beekeepers the guidance they need for their hives to succeed. Another threat Poe faces with his
hives? Theft. Three of the hives he tended in Carlisle, PA, were stolen in their first winter. “These thieves knew that active beehives are full of incredibly valuable pollinators. I was definitely disappointed.” Those hives were later replaced with nine new ones that are now thriving under his care. Poe loves how varied honey can
Learn more about the lives of bees and the work of a beekeeper from expert Mike Poe. Read the article at
savoryonline.com.
Beekeeper Mike Poe with a frame from one of the beehives he manages in Carlisle, PA
look and taste, changing depending on the season and where the bees get their nectar. “You could sample and cook with it just like different wines,” he says. His wife loves to bake with honey, but he’s just as happy to eat it by the spoonful: “... a great way to treat a cold.” Honey is a natural cough suppressant, the National Honey Board® notes, and is a great source of energizing carbohydrates. Even if you don’t have your own
hives, there are many ways you can do more for the bees. Check out the National Honey Board® website,
www.honey.com, for a list of pollinator-loving plants for your
garden, educational worksheets for kids, recipes made with honey, and much more. Turn the page to learn more about bees and sustainability, and turn to page 20 for easy ways you can help.
Turn the page for delicious recipes staring honey
SAVORYONLINE.COM APRIL 2023 17
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