Backyard beekeeping becoming easier in the U.S.

 Backyard beekeeping becoming easier in the U.S.

Nonprofessional beekeeping is a growing community around the country.

For the average person, beekeeping may seem terrifying. However, for a growing number of regular Americans, it’s just another hobby.

Palmyra resident Dustin McIntosh was watching beekeeping videos on YouTube one day when he thought of the idea to become a beekeeper himself.

“I looked it up and just got started. I found someone who could sell me a hive and that’s how I started,” McIntosh said.

In his backyard, McIntosh has several hives that he feeds and protects. Surviving on a diet of honey and sugar water that he feeds them, the bees look to be ready for the upcoming fall and winter.

However, McIntosh is not alone. In the Tri-State area, the Mississippi Valley Beekeepers Association is where beekeeping enthusiasts meet to discuss strategies and ideas for keeping their hives alive.

McIntosh did not get off to a good start initially. His first hive died not too long after he purchased them. However, he continued to do research and has turned into a successful amateur beekeeper. McIntosh said that doing research is what keeps the bees alive.

“I did a lot of reading and studying and I’m not a scientist or anything, but I’m now able to take care of them,” McIntosh added.

He believes that to be a beekeeper, one has to be passionate about the process and most importantly, the bees.