Last week we got the chance to visit a bee museum and local bee farm. Going into it, I wasn’t really ‘buzzed’ about the situation. However, I underestimated that amount of interest that the museum and farm would have. I had thought I knew a little about the bee farm from outside sources such as documentaries, movies, and light readings on bees. We entered the bee museum and got a little history on the positive affects of having bees on the island of Rhodes, and how important they are to the world in general. Additionally we got to see how the honey, wax, and other products and modes of techniques that were historically used to extract the benefits of honey bees. I had previously thought that bees only had major stakes in pollination and making honey. Bees actually produce a variety of products such as beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and bee venom that can be very beneficial to the bees as well as us. 

Not only did we learn about the history of bees but we were able to see two hives, and the different kinds of bees that it contained, such as worker bees, drones, nurse bees, and a queen. It is amazing to see that under one command, the bee community or hive can function, but if that queen bee is to die, she is easily replaced. It is also mind-blowing that such a small organism can have such an affect on our world. We account on the bees for pollination of the world’s plants. Without the bees there will not be any pollination which will in turn cost us greatly as we will lose the plants around us as well as our food source. It makes me think that such a small being in the world can change it for the better, so one should never underestimate themselves or others because you do not know what you or another person may bring to the table. 

One things that was intriguing to see was the extraction of honey process. As a collective we were able to extract honey from the beeswax sheet through a honey extractor. Extracting the honey called for one to crack or spin a handle on a machine at a high rate to ensure that the honey would separate from the honeycombs. Each of us were able to take a turns spinning the machine and see how much effort it takes to extract honey as past people have done. Now things aren’t as complicated due to the easy extraction from machines. After extracting the honey, it was a delightful treat to be able to taste the honey. 

It is interesting to see how much hard work has to go into trying to extract a product. I also found it interesting to see the relationship that American’s hold bees to and Europeans hold bees to. In Europe, they seem to hold bees in such a higher regard that we do in America. In America there are so many toxins, and hazardous conditions for bees as we are one of the main contributors of pollution. Currently with our current presidency we are headed away from an environmental and sustainable outlook that not only we need, but the bees need as well. Without a clear environment bees will not be able to survive, and the end of bees means the end for us as well. In Europe, people see the need for bees, the need for their protection, and their importance. There have been some movements within the United States to education people on the importance of bees such as in educational institutions (colleges), however on that scale you are not able to reach everyone. I think that it is great that a small movement within America is seeing the need for the bees, however I hope that everyone catches the importance of bees before it is too late.