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Beyoncé reportedly picked up a new hobby over the pandemic: beekeeping. (Is there anything more fitting than Queen Bey herself caring for bees? Members of the Beyhive, rejoice!)
The superstar spoke about creating her bee farm in a recent and rare interview with Harper’s Bazaar magazine, in which she recounts how she first began to learn about honey and CBD during lockdown. “I found healing properties in honey that benefit me and my children,” the star told Harper's Bazaar, “and now I’m building a hemp and honey farm. I’ve even got hives on my roof!”
Want to know how to build your own honey bee farm like Beyoncé? We certainly do, so we asked Samantha Foxx of Mother's Finest Urban Family Farm for advice on how to get started. Foxx began her farm a couple of years ago to make a better life for her family through the most holistic way she knew possible. "It has been an amazing experience, and my seven-year-old son Kingston is my favorite little helper,” she tells House Beautiful. “He has become more conscious of taking care of the environment and has learned about the importance of bees in our food chain.”
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How to Start the Buzz
When it comes to getting a bee farm going, Foxx says it's crucial that you have a plan—and
that you stick to it. “Write down what you are planning to do with your space. Start where you are; don’t feel like you need hundreds of acres to create a farm or successful operation," she asserts. "I started out with just flower pots on my porch and I continued to grow, learn, and plan each year." For beginners, she recommends starting with just two hives.
Another pro tip: Read up on the anatomy of bees beforehand to help better understand their nature and behavior. (The best time to prep, Foxx notes, is during the colder months, so that you're ready to go in the springtime.)
The first thing you need to buy? A hive box to house the bees in, of course. "Some places offer kits that you can purchase that will include all the things you need to start an apiary,” Foxx notes. Next, invest in some protective gear, including a smoker, gloves, and a veil. Lastly, buy a honey extractor, which you'll need further down the line. “For year one, you don’t take your honey out, as that is left for stores of foods for the bees,” she explains.
On The Benefits of Growing A Bee Farm
Creating a honey bee farm is not only a fun hobby, but also good for planet Earth. “The benefits of creating an apiary are taking care of the bees and helping to increase the pollinator population,” says Foxx. The pollinator population plays a huge role in the food production system, and without it growing certain crops of food would be nearly impossible. Foxx also notes that the additional benefits of having a honey farm are tied to the healing nature of honey, which can help relieve allergies, fight infections, and speed up healing.
On Encouraging Others to Start Their Own Farm
“I have so many people who reach out to me who are inspired by my journey, and they have started gardening, beekeeping, and have become involved in supporting beekeepers,” says Foxx. As a woman of color she is happy that her presence has inspired other people of color to go out to start a farm. “I encourage others to join me and begin their own personal journey, [and] I believe more and more [members of the POC community] will do so in the future."
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