From Buzz to Bliss: Our Beekeeping Journey.
When we moved to Casa Alegria, our dream was to create a self-sustaining Garden of Eden, complete with our very own beehives.
Not only did we crave the sweet taste of homegrown honey, but we also needed diligent pollinators for our growing fruit trees and vegetables. Our barren area lacked these busy bees, and we knew their pollination powers could quadruple our harvest.
The Quest for Nectar
We kickstarted our plan by planting dozens of lavender bushes, chosen for their ability to bloom most of the year, providing nectar for our bees. A research led us to other pollinator plants suited for our dry Mediterranean climate. Soon, our garden was a buzzing paradise, and we were on the hunt for our first hives.
A Sweet Discovery
While exploring an artist fair in Santa Cruz with my parents, I stumbled upon a beekeeper selling artisan honey. His passion was infectious , and after sharing my own beekeeping dreams, he agreed to sell us two hives.
A few weeks later, we placed our new buzzing friends in the middle of the ravine (barranco), hoping to keep them away from the house yet within our property. They thrived until winter’s chill hit hard, and both hives sadly perished.
Lessons from Antonio, the Bee Whisperer
Enter Antonio, the village beekeeper.
He inspected our hives and pinpointed the cold barranco winds as the cause of death.
Ever generous he supplied us with new bee nuclei, helped find optimal hive locations, and regularly mentored me through the beekeeping process. Despite my poor Spanish, Antonio’s patience and passion made him a great friend and mentor.
The Sweet Harvest
When it was time to harvest honey, we took the heavy honeycombs to Antonio’s house. He guided me through the extraction process, sharing his equipment and his homemade wine.
Our friendship deepened as we laughed, chatted, and celebrated our successful harvest.
The first time, I offered him half of our honey as thanks, but true to his generous spirit, he refused, saying he has enough of his own and that he enjoyed having another beekeeper around.
A Hive of Happiness
Today, our beekeeping journey brings us immense joy and pride.
Every year, we harvest 10 to 20 kg of the finest honey, thanks to the diverse nectar sources on our property. This bounty not only sustains us but also allows us to share sweet gifts with friends, family, and strangers.
Our docile Italian bees, have made our dream of a sustainable lifestyle a reality.
The journey, filled with ups and downs, has been sweeter than we ever imagined.
So here’s to dreaming big, learning from the best, and living a life filled with buzz and bliss!