BEEKEEPING
An ancient craft in your own backyard
One of our oldest professions, the ancient practice of beekeeping, is experiencing something of a renaissance. In 2015, a record number of colonies—just over 721,000—were in operation across Canada, with almost 300,000 of those in Alberta alone. When you look at the big picture, it’s no wonder. Besides producing honey and beeswax, bee colonies bring many other benefits, both to the people who care for them and to the communities where they are located.
Cheap & Easy
As far as hobbies go, keeping a backyard hive (or two) is neither exhausting nor expensive. Much of what you’ll need to spend, in time and money, will come early on as you’re getting into it. For starters, you’ll need to do some research. Find out what bylaws regulate beekeeping in your area and how to register your hives. Figure out what equipment you’ll need and how to use and maintain it. Also, learn about the different kinds of bees so that you can choose one that’s appropriate for you (subtle hint: don’t start with an aggressive strain). You’ll also need to buy a few things: hives, hive stands, protective clothing, smokers, feed, other tools and supplies, and, of course, bees—all of which will probably set you back a few hundred dollars.
Once your beehive is up and running, the rest will be fairly straightforward. It’ll take a year before you can start harvesting
A Little Pocket Money
For many, beekeeping is a labour of love. But it doesn’t hurt if your hobby can provide you with extra pocket money. Once your first hive is a success, you can set up additional hives (provided you have the room). Extra honey means extra honey you can sell, perhaps at farmers’ markets, from your home or in local stores. You’ll also have excess beeswax that can be made into candles, lip balm, hand lotion and so on. There’s even a viable market for renting out bee colonies to farms to help pollinate crops. In Alberta, thousands of hives are rented each year just for this purpose. According to the Canadian Honey Council, the average rental fee for a hive is $120, depending on the crop that needs to be pollinated.
Stress? What Stress?
Urban beekeepers often talk about the stress-busting power of beekeeping. Like bird watching, gardening or watching cat videos, there’s something calming about keeping bees. Plus, there’s a whole social aspect to apiculture. As the activity spreads across the country, many cities and towns now have beekeeping clubs. Newbies can easily join a passionate community of fellow beekeepers, where they can get advice and start new friendships.
Better Gardens
Even if they’re not actively beekeeping themselves, urban gardeners benefit from having bees in the neighbourhood. The reason is simple: most flowering plants reproduce through cross-pollination. This requires an animal pollinator to move pollen from one flower to another, and bees are the best known and most efficient pollinators nature has to offer. Bees visit flowers to gather nectar and pollen, their main sources of energy, fat and protein. As they move about, they inevitably carry pollen grains to the flowers they visit, allowing cross-fertilization to happen. So, the benefit is mutual—gardens feed bees, and bees help gardens thrive, promoting biodiversity and ecological stability in urban areas.
Saving Bees
As you likely know, beekeeping may actually contribute to helping save the world’s bee populations, which have been in decline for some time now. In Canada, a combination of pesticide use, habitat loss, poor nutrition, disease, mites and severe winters has been blamed for colony losses. The good news? The rate of loss has slowed over the last decade, according to data from the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists. At the same time, the number of honeybee colonies across the country has increased by 22.4 percent. t8n
Fun Fact
When it’s properly sealed, honey may be the only food that never spoils in its edible form.
This is due to unique antibacterial properties, such as high acidity and an absence of water, which prevent many microorganisms from growing in it. Archaeologists have found (and apparently tasted!) preserved, millennia-old pots of honey while excavating Egyptian royal tombs.
When the duo took over the shop four years ago, they set out to create a new concept in consignment and thrifting. They look for hard-to-find, independent labels in favour of well-known brands. They curate carefully and pre-sort the pieces that make it into the store.
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[_excerpt] => Gone Thrifting! Trend meets philosophy at Red Pony Consignment Recycled, upcycled, vintage or nearly new, these days second-hand is getting a well-deserved second look. It seems everyone from students and …
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Scoop, There It Is
Hello, ice cream season!
Summer and ice cream are perfect companions. But ice cream has two Italian cousins you should plan to spend some time with, too. There's no need to buy a plane ticket though, because the Greater Edmonton area offers no shortage of Italian gelati, sorbetti and, of course, traditional ice cream. Here are 10 places to help you keep cool this summer—scoop by delicious scoop.
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G Is for Gin
Make no mistake. It’s gin o’clock somewhere.
By Carmen D. Hrynchuk
On hot summer days when the mercury rises, gin has a way of going with everything—and in everything. Popsicles? Yes, please. Cocktails? Don’t mind if I do. Marinades and salad dressings? You get the idea. Gin, in all its glorious imaginings, is summer’s perfect pairing. Give these little lovelies a try.
Cucumber & Lime Gin-sicles
(makes 6 to 8)
French Tart Cocktail[/caption]
The French Tart
Hearts of Romaine—Grilled lettuce may seem like an odd concept, but try it once, and you’ll be a believer. Split the hearts of romaine in half lengthwise, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until slightly charred. Serve them whole with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of grilled lemon and a grating of Parmesan, or chop them up and toss them with your favourite Caesar salad dressing. Add grilled steak or chicken for an unforgettable salad.
Carrots—Grilling carrots brings out their sweetness and adds a depth of flavour that not even a roasted carrot has. Grill them whole over medium-high heat for 25 minutes (rotating every 5), or cut them diagonally into medallions, and thread them onto wooden skewers that have been soaked in water. When they are almost cooked, brush them with a salty and sweet soy glaze: equal parts honey and soy sauce with grated ginger and garlic to taste. Delicious.
Fennel—Grilled fennel is working its way onto menus everywhere. But don’t wait to go out to enjoy them. Grilling them at home couldn’t be easier. Simply slice off the ferns, cut the fennel in half lengthwise, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and slow grill them over medium-high heat until they’re tender and golden brown (about 12 minutes per side). For a quick dressing, drizzle the tops with a little balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of salt, or dress them with a squeeze of grilled lemon and a grating of parmesan. Add the leftovers to pasta salad.
Figs—If you’re looking for a recipe to impress, grilled figs are a game changer. There’s only one secret to preparing them, and that’s a super hot grill. Too low a temp and they will stick. Simply cut them in half, brush them with grapeseed oil and grill them cut-side down for just over 1 minute. For a fabulous warm salad, toss the figs in a bowl with some feta, arugula and a handful of chopped pistachios. Drizzle with a honey-balsamic vinaigrette. Unforgettable.
Brown Bear Biscuits
If you take pride in toasting the perfect marshmallow, you’ll love making brown bears. Fun, occasionally competitive, always delicious. Give them a try.
Salted Nutella Latte
Coffee purist, look away! There’s nothing but instant espresso and sugar going on here. The perfect start to a sweet evening.
Sausage & Beans
Wieners and beans who? Let’s just say that this will be your new campfire staple. Perfect every time.
S’more Nachos
This recipe is as good at home in the oven as it is over a campfire. A definite must-try.
