The sweet health benefits of honey

WANT TO RAISE YOUR OWN BEES? Becoming a beekeeper is fun, but it requires patience and hard work. “It’s not a hands-off hobby,” says South Carolina master beekeeper Charlotte Anderson. But

once you have the hive and bees set up, Anderson says, beekeeping takes only about two hours a month. Here are her tips for getting started. KNOW THE LOCAL LAWS. “There are a good many

places, mostly in cities, that don’t allow beekeeping, so check your local regulations or homeowners association rules,” Anderson says. BUY YOUR HIVE. You can order a hive online or from a

local bee supplier. The most popular, according to Anderson, is called a Langstroth hive, designed in 1851 by Methodist minister and renowned beekeeper Lorenzo Langstroth. About 16 inches

wide and 20 inches long, it consists of a bottom base and a deep box that usually holds 10 movable, vertically hung frames. PLACE YOUR HIVE IN THE RIGHT SPOT. You want the hive to be a good

distance away from places with human activity, like a child’s play area or garage. Ideally, the hive should face east or south to warm up your brood. “Honeybees cannot fly until they reach a

certain body temperature,” Anderson says, “and you want them to be foraging all day.” BUY A BEE SUIT AND A SMOKER. You need at least a beekeeper’s hat, veil and gloves, but many people,

Anderson included, opt for a full beekeeper’s suit. You also need to buy a smoker, which is used when you need to calm down the bees without hurting them. BUY YOUR BEES. You can either order

bees through the mail or go to a local bee supplier. Either way, Anderson says, the critters will probably come from a warm state (like Georgia or Texas or Florida) and be available in the

spring (she advises ordering ahead). They usually arrive in a 3-pound package about the size of a large shoebox that holds about 10,000 bees. Place the bees in the hive you’ve set up.

EDUCATE YOURSELF. Join a local beekeeping association, take beekeeping classes or read up on the subject. (Anderson’s book, _Buzz Into Beekeeping,_ is a great place to start.) ENJOY YOUR

HONEY! You should be able to reap what the bees have created in year two. And harvesting the honey, Anderson says, “is a breeze.” Find out more in 10 Tips for First-Time Beekeepers.