Sweet rewards Beekeeping a lifelong pursuit

By Mary Glen Hatcher

Growing up between California and Southern Arizona, Greg Denker was addicted to the outdoors. And with five active siblings, it was an obsession his parents were happy to fuel. “Things generally ran much smoother inside the house when I was outside,” Denker says with a laugh. So at age 10, when Denker announced his intent to become a beekeeper and produce his own honey, his whole family enthusiastically supported him. After earning enough to cover the cost of his first hive, Denker began building his own boxes and capturing unwanted bee colonies to build out his apiaries. Through the years, he enlisted the help of friends and siblings to work the beehives, and eventually shared his love of beekeeping with his own children. Now, more than 50 years later, DenSweetrewards ker’s fascination with bees has landed him at Tucson’s Wagon Wheel Ranch, where he manages countless hives of my animal husbandry, it’s fascinatnaturally hearty bees on more than ing.” 3,000 acres. Whether it’s the increasing popularBut through the years, Denker said ity of homesteading, a reaction to the the joy of learning from the bees and plight of pollinators or the desire to reencouraging others to take up beekeep- connect with the natural world, beeing continues to be his primary moti- keeping has flourished in popularity in vator. recent years. “I just find it absolutely amazing how It’s a rewarding hobby and fascinatsmart, how cooperative and how clev- ing hobby, Denker says, but one that er they are,” he said. “And to be able to also requires planning, knowledge and have the biology of the hive tell me ev- a modest investment of time and monerything I need to know to be good at ey to be successful. PHOTOS BY MARY GLEN HATCHER GREG DENKER, head beekeeper and manager of Wagon Wheel Ranch in Tucson, surveys the beehives – also called apiaries – on his property.

With more than 40 years of experience providing hives to others and mentoring new beekeepers, Denker has found that the best beekeeping experiences start with an intentional look at what you want to get out of it – your goals and motivations for beekeeping – before jumping in. “Lots of people, when they say they want bees, they’re kind of like a kid in a candy store. You can get a little in over your head if you’re not careful

HOT BEESWAX is poured into molds at the Wagon Wheel Ranch headquarters in East Tucson. Greg Denker prides himself on the Ranch’s pristine honey and beeswax, which they sell to locals in bulk.

GREG DENKER CUTS honeycomb from his hives straight from the frame.

and may need to walk before you run,” Denker said.

Whether you want to provide better pollination for plants, produce honey or hive products for consumption or raise bees for original research can determine what supplies and strain of bees you need.

Regardless of the goal, Denker recommends any beekeeper maintain a minimum of two colonies to ensure the well-being of the bees. If something happens to one hive – for example, they lose their queen – they can be saved using resources from the other.

Denker also recommends consulting with a local, seasoned beekeeper who can coach you through the process and teach you about the nuances of beekeeping in your region. For example, due to the Southern Arizona heat, beekeepers in the region should be aware that the window to harvest honey is short, typically spanning just a few weeks in April, Denker said.

“It’s not obvious, but a lot of beekeeping comes down to timing – when to take things off, when to check on your hives and how you step through that process. Timing can really be the difference between keeping a hive and losing one,” Denker said.

“So having someone who can mentor you through that, and all the other things that come up, is everything,” he said.

Taking a class or contacting a beekeeping group, like the Southern Arizona Beekeepers Association or the American Beekeeping Federation, can provide a solid knowledge base and support system for beekeepers just starting out.

And reading books or blogs – Denker recommends “Beekeeper’s Handbook” by Diana Sammataro – will also go a long way in understanding bee habits, which can affect how you manage your hive.

HONEY SAMPLES from Denker’s bees at the Wagon Wheel Ranch headquarters.

There are no state statutes in Arizona that prevent residents from keeping bees, though local ordinances vary across the state.

In unincorporated Pima County, beekeeping is permitted in all zoning districts, with some restrictions on the number of bee colonies you can operate depending on the size of the property and where the boundaries are located.

Beekeeping is also permitted throughout the Town of Sahuarita with similar restrictions on the number of colonies per acre, but requires beekeepers to register their operation with the Arizona Commission of Agriculture and Horticulture.

In addition, Arizona requires beekeepers to notify and get permission from nearby landowners engaged in commercial agriculture if your bees may forage on their property. After receiving the notice, the commercial farmer is required to inform the beekeeper before applying bee-sensitive pesticides in the area.

Another important part of beekeeping, Denker says, is educating people on their importance, habits and instincts. If you have nearby neighbors, check in with them, be considerate of their fears, and inquire if anyone has a true bee allergy.

While bees and their pollinating services help maintain a biological balance in nature, they also provide bee products that can be harvested.

In addition to honey – which is the most widespread and well-known bee product – beeswax, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis can be harvested from the hive and transformed for a variety of medicinal, cosmetic or culinary purposes.

Still, for Denker, nothing beats the feeling of cutting into and eating honeycomb from one of his own hives.

“I get the shivers just thinking about enjoying the real honey that my bees made,” Denker said, slicing into a sheet of honeycomb.

“It was my dream for so long, and it’s just still so cool to be able to do this.”

For those interested in taking up beekeeping, Denker can confirm the rewards, just like his bees, are countless.

“It’s been very therapeutic for me. As my kids get older, sometimes when times are rough, they come home to harvest some honey and you can just hear the sighs of relief when they fire up the smoker. There’s only so many things in life that are unequivocally good, and it’s kind of cool that beekeeping is one of those things,” he said.

“Plus, if someone has a real sweet tooth, it might just be worth it for the honey alone.”

GREG DENKER LOADS beehive frames into an extractor, a machine he uses to separate the honey from the beeswax and frame, at the Wagon Wheel Ranch headquarters in East Tucson.

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