Parting Thoughts
The Buzz On Bees ARTICLE NIKKI RHOADES
L
ove of honey is deeply-rooted in us humans.
"Bees
improve
quality
of
Between 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, humans
life. Plants, shrubs, and anything
began to collect and consume honey products.
that flowers needs to be polli-
By 2444 B.C.E., cultures like the Ancient Egyptians
nated, and few plants are wind,
began to perfect the art of beekeeping. Honey is a
rain, or self-pollinated. We would
commodity that has become something of a neces-
not have our beautiful parks, com-
sity, and its history may surprise you.
munity gardens, or small and large
What may also surprise you is that honey bees are
farms without our pollinators. Fall is when
not native to the Western Hemisphere. In fact, the first
honey is harvested, so around this time of year
honey bees were imported into the Colonies circa 1622.
it is available in great quantity. It is great to support
From its importation through the early 1800's, beekeep-
locally grown, but we must remember that that includes
ing seems to have largely been a local trade. Prior to the
honey as a local agricultural commodity.. Plus, some
invention of hives with movable frames, beekeeping was
believe that if you eat honey from local plants and local
a rather destructive process. Bees were often captured
pollen, it increases pollen immunity. Enjoy honey and
in the spring and killed in the fall so that beeswax and
the flavorful possibilities it creates, but also consider the
honey could be harvested. By the late 1800's, though,
importance of pollination that bees provide."
combs of honey could be removed without harming the
Honey bees and native bees (which encompass 4,000
bees, and commercial beekeeping became a financial
native species) pollinate local flowers and agricultural
possibility for hobbyists and local tradesmen.
goods. However, many veggies on our Thanksgiving
One local beekeeping hobbyist was a man by the
table are New World crops--things Native Americans
name of Amos Ives Root. A.I. Root seemed to be fas-
cultivated and ate--and native bees are essential in the
cinated by a number of different fields, and he made
pollination of certain native plants that are not attractive
an effort to acquaint himself with knowledgeable indi-
to honey bees. Our pollinator population is extremely
viduals in those areas. Thus is how Root became the
valuable, so the maintenance of our existing honeybee
first man to publish an account of the Wright Brothers'
population is of great importance to our ecosystem.
flight, and also how he would come to strike up an
"The projected value of our bee industry doesn't
acquaintance with Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth, the inven-
include the value that pollination provides to our
tor of the modern beehive that keepers still use today.
crops. In Ohio, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers,
By 1869, Root was making candles out of beeswax, and
peaches, cabbage, tomatoes, and apples need to
thanks to his innovation and influence, bees became a
be pollinated. That's roughly $75-100 million in val-
beloved symbol in Medina.
ued pollination. Corn is an example of a crop that is
"Beekeeping is absolutely a field to be proud of
wind-pollinated, so bees stay away from it. But, as
on Ohio," say Michele Colopy, Program Director of
you can see, these remarkable creatures provide an
Pollinator Strewardship Council.
incredible value to their communities."
Colopy goes on to explain the value of beekeeping
Are bees worthy to be a symbol of Medina pride? As an
in the state. Here, honey production is a $4.5 million
agricultural community and the historic home of A.I. Root,
industry. Our state is home to 10,000 registered bee-
the answer is as resounding yes. While the busy bees seem
keepers, and 191 of them call Medina County home.
to have fled for the winter, there are ways you can help them
In the state, 15,000 honey producing colonies flour-
maintain and grow their existing population.. Special seed
ish, producing 79 lbs of honey each.
blends designed to provide pollinator forage can be planted
Like many locals, Colopy has a deeply rooted
now so that they bloom in the spring and provide a food
passion for beekeeping. "I helped my father harvest
source to our pollinators. For more info on how you can
honey growing up. We didn't have motor oriented
support your local bee population, visit Bit.ly/2z1KNFd.
extractors, and I had the right hand techniques. So,
I don't know about you, but I'm sure thankful for the
yes, I have a passion for the field, but it also provides
bees that bring beauty to our quaint community and local
tremendous value to the community.
crops to our Thanksgiving tables. Have a great holiday!
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Medina County Lifestyle | November 2017