AARP The Magazine - June/July 2012

The Scoop

See It to Bee-lieve It How beekeeping can lead to sweet rewards

When they’re not protecting their queen, bees are pretty lovable. And if you’re willing to invest about $300 in supplies and a hive, the buzzing little wonders can produce honey and pollinate your garden. About 120,000 beekeepers are practicing their craft in the United States—as many as 75 percent are 50 or older—and the vast majority are amateurs, estimates Kim Flottum, 64, editor of ;Bee Culture magazine and the owner of seven hives. Helping to fuel the boom: New York, Detroit, and other cities have legalized backyard beekeeping over the past few years. Even the White House has a hive on the South Lawn. But while bees

are small, hives aren’t. Bee boxes often weigh 75 to 90 pounds, Flottum says, though companies now make lighter boxes, with 8-frame hives weighing 35 to 40 pounds. Catherine Hemmerdinger, 56, above, an art historian in Cotuit, Massachusetts, bought two hives when she and her husband took a beekeeping class. “They’re really very gentle, docile creatures,” she says. Want a thriving hive? Visit beeculture.com/content/whoswho to find a local beekeeping association. —Christina Ianzito

VINTAGE VEGGIES

Commercial growers often focus on produce that ships well. Taste? Not so much. To get veggies with great flavor, a growing number of home gardeners are turning to heirloom seeds: plant varieties that can date back generations. Seed seller Burpee tripled its stock of heirloom seeds to about 400 types last year, with sales up 20 percent. And while tomatoes remain the hottest vintage choice, you’ll find everything from peppers and beans to squash and lettuce. Bonus: Heirloom veggies often have fun names. Doesn’t a Royal Hillbilly sound more intriguing than an everyday Beefsteak? —Laura Daily