For over a decade now, the hobby or profession of beekeeping has been booming in popularity. In 2008, the CDC released details regarding the massive decline in bee populations across the U.S. and explained what this could mean for our environment. In response, many have taken up the torch, from urban to rural areas, to help save the bees and maybe make a buck or two along the way.
As we move forward in a world that moves faster than ever before and where we’re fighting climate change, beekeeping is just one of many potential jobs that could serve the modern person. Returning to nature in a manner that merges with our individual needs could greatly benefit our economy and environment.
The Lifestyle of a Beekeeper
One of the main questions someone thinking about a career transition to a more balanced and natural life might ask themselves is, “Where will I have to live?” The call of the city lifestyle could hold us back from such natural practices, even as a hobbyist. Well, that’s the great thing about beekeeping. You can do it anywhere.
Studies have shown that bees in many urban areas are actually healthier than bees in some rural areas because of an absence of pesticides, among other things. However, there’s more to pollinate and more money to be made with a large patch of land. Honey bees have adapted to various environments across the U.S., but the most significant producers are often in meadowlands.
Whether you’re a city person, more country, or somewhere in-between, there’s somewhere you could live at the speed you want while also being a beekeeper. Some of the best places to be a beekeeper in the U.S. for civil or business purposes include; Bismarck, North Dakota, Talent, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and even New York City.
How to Make Money Beekeeping
Another question that someone must ask themselves before becoming a beekeeper or transitioning into a more hands-on, natural, or blue-collar career is, “Can I make enough money?” The answer for a full-time beekeeper is a resounding yes, with them coming in at about $49,000 a year and salaries expected to climb over the next few years.
Beekeepers make their money in various ways, and while some are obvious, there are boundless ways to make money as a beekeeper. Aside from selling honey and honey products, beeswax, propolis, and pollen can all be extracted from your hives. As a result, they can be sold for a number of medicinal, therapeutic, and dietary purposes. Additionally, you could run your own services with your bees, including jumpstarting the hives of new beekeepers and providing pollination services.
You Could Enjoy the Life of a Beekeeper
Recreationally or as a new career pursuit, beekeeping is something that anyone could get involved with; you really only need a few feet of space outside and reasonable assurance that you won’t be bothering any neighbors. From there, you can enjoy all the benefits of watching your bees and providing for them while hopefully making whatever money you need from the venture and maintaining the lifestyle that suits you.
SEO Journal: Pre-Writing Process—After looking at the topic board on Trello, I expanded the bee-keeping topic card to an idea that seeks to give a quick, all-encompassing view of beekeeping. Running off reasonable assumptions of what the demographic of those interested in beekeeping would want to know, I wanted to answer a variety of questions that those people would search for. After I form some ideas of questions, I’ll give them a search to see if the results are overcrowded as well as to get a look at the other questions people asked. The links I found in these searches were enough to support my article, and using the questions, or part of the questions, as keyword phrases should help boost its SEO value.