Etowah river beekeepers

Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, are important to us all. They play a vital role in the ecosystem and in our economy. Among the most important of these roles is that bees are essential to pollinate our fruit and vegetable crops. About one third of everything that we eat requires their pollinating services. Despite their importance, you may have heard the “buzz”: their numbers and diversity are declining at an alarming rate. Many reputable scientific sources, including our own University of Georgia, have documented this decline and that it is an accelerating trend.

Among its contributing causes is the loss of habitat, the widespread use of pesticides, invasive species, and climate change. So, it’s fair to ask ourselves, “What can we do to stop and possibly reverse this trend?”. We often think of ourselves as too small a cog in the machine to make a difference. But, our actions, as small as they may seem, will help. We should all strive to be better stewards of Mother Earth. To start down this path, we should spend some time to better educate ourselves about bees and other pollinators and what is happening to them.

You can read about this subject in books, journals, and articles, watch educational TV programs, and browse reputable internet sources. I think that you will find the subject entertaining, informative, and valuable. If you’re like me, you will discover that these insects are truly fascinating creatures and that we need them. The more we learn, the more we will realize that we can do something to help. The easiest think that we can do to “save our bees” is to conduct ourselves responsibly. For one thing, we can use pesticides more sparingly and more carefully. If you’re a gardener, you can do even more: you can plant a “pollinator garden”, planting a variety of plants so that something is in bloom every warm month of the year. This approach will help provide a continuous and ample supply of pollen and nectar to our pollinator friends. Additionally, it will help beautify our properties. If you’re a woodworker, you could build and place a few native bee houses in your yard and in friends’ and neighbors’ yards. And, if you really want to do more, you could become a beekeeper.

My wife and I are involved in all of these activities. We’re retired, so have more time for them, but, if you’re still working, you can do as much as you have time for. Your efforts will make a difference.

Among pollinators, honeybees are superstars. This title applies, because they can be managed by man and easily moved to crop sites needing pollinating services. They are essentially the only “portable pollinators” available. Although honeybees are not the most efficient pollinators (that title goes to our native bees), their “portability is what makes them so most important to us.

Honeybee on a Sunflower, University of Reading

Besides the altruistic reasons, there are other reasons to keep honeybees. An obvious one is the delicious honey they provide for the beekeeper. But, once your cupboard is full of that liquid gold, you may, like me, be smitten by the bees themselves and their fascinating social structure and intricate behavior. By keeping hives, a good beekeeper will help to ensure that there are healthy and thriving honeybee colonies around and, thus, ensure that there are plenty of bees to pollinate our crops for the future.

If you’re interested in beekeeping, you are invited to attend the upcoming Etowah River Beekeepers (ERB) club “bee school”. This is an all-day program to be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Cherokee County Veterans Park, Buzz Center, 7345 Cumming Hwy, Canton, GA 30115. Non-members: $65.00 for first person, $20.00 each guest.

Early-bird registration is open until February 21 so register today! Registrations will be accepted after that date if space is available.

The Etowah River Beekeepers club is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting local beekeepers. All paid attendees will be given a one-year membership in the club. At its monthly meetings, the club provides informative and practical presentations on beekeeping. It also hosts “Bee Babble”, a weekly virtual meeting which provides an open forum to anyone wanting to ask beekeeping questions. The club also mentors its members and much more.