COVER FEATURE
“ It is extremely hot in the summer with the protective suit and veil on ,” he said . “ You have to lift the heavy hives . A bee box full of honey can weigh maybe up to 90 pounds so it can be kind of strenuous .”
However , he finds beekeeping to be engaging work and enjoys the continual learning process .
Initially starting with two hives , Whiddon now maintains 30 colonies of bees at his home in the Bailey community and at his hunting club in Kemper County . Some are small colonies just getting established . He also has learned to trap swarms of wild honey bees to start new colonies .
Last year , he produced about 216 pounds of honey from six or seven hives , which he also sells to anyone interested in local honey .
“ I am going to have a good bit more than that this year ,” he noted .
Beekeeping is a hobby Whiddon remembers once captivating his father ’ s interest , too .
“ My father had a couple of hives when I was a teenager , and I had absolutely no interest in the bees then ,” he recalled . “ But I do remember that my father was fascinated by the bees . He would just like to sit and watch his bees going in and out of the hive .”
Whiddon , too , finds the social structure of honey bees and their highly efficient ability to produce honey amazing .
“ It is fascinating that bees can take nectar out of flowers and produce honey ,” he said . “ The whole process is quite engaging .” M
10 • MERIDIAN LIFE