There is one regret you never have to worry about. This is the choice of a simple hobby to boost your self esteem. This should be a fun creative hobby. These hobbies not only boost self esteem but fill the time you wasted on those addictions. The addictions I call energy thieves. Your energy thief could be sugar, television, your iphone or the family drama.
I have many hobbies. Most of my hobbies are creative - card making, knitting, needlepoint and collecting autographs . Others have included coin collecting. One of the best hobbies I have is beekeeping The question is what do I do for our hobby from November to April? The girls are hibernating and keeping warm for the spring and summer ahead. So what do we do? I read old and new bee books. I am also the President of the American Apitherapy Society ( www.apitherapy.org ) My affiliation with the AAS has been fulfilling and rewarding. We had a conference this year in New Jersey. We are planning the next conference for October 4,5 and 6 2024. It will be held in Chicago. We educate ourselves more and spread the word everywhere.
I even get to fit in a bee needle point now and then.
So are you ready to start beekeeping as your hobby? You have some basic reading to do.
Here are just a few:
1. ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture
2. The Beekeeper's Handbook
3. The Backyard Beekeeper
4. Natural Beekeeping
5. Better Bee Keeping
One book I thoroughly enjoyed is The Beekeeper's Lament. It tells the story of beekeeper John Miller and how one man and his half a billion bees feed America.
If you are thinking of becoming a beekeeper, take a course- http://www.honeybeelives.org or the beekeeping course at the NY Botanical Gardens (http://www.nybg.org) Or better yet contact Andrew Cote, friend /colleague He is the author of ‘Honey and Venom’ and the President of the NYC Beekeepers Association
Your local Beekeeping Society is your best resource for the area you might live in.