I hate bees
“I hate bees,” a fellow blogger said to me when I asked whether she would come with us to visit Miele Praconi, one of the biggest honey producers in Emilia-Romagna. I was stunned that someone could feel such a negative emotion towards an insect that is so beneficial to humans but I wasn’t really surprised. Bees get a bad rap. They sometimes swarm and are often mistaken for wasps. Unlike wasps, bees are gentle and sting only when they feel threatened, after one sting they die so they pick their battles wisely.
Miele Praconi
I have long been fascinated by bees and dream of some day having the space to own a hive or two. So you can imagine how excited I was when we arrived at Miele Praconi in San Mauro Pascoli. Miele Praconi is a family owned business and father and son were there to greet us, show us around, and teach us a few things.
While we were talking, bikers started driving up to assemble before going off on a tour.
For a few minutes everyone was distracted, so I walked out amongst the beehives and just watched and listened to the bees buzzing around. After the bikers were all gone, Mr Praconi senior came out with his smoker and opened a few hives for me to have a look inside.
Organized community
What looks like chaos is actually a very organized community. Bees all have their jobs, drones, workers and the queen, and they do their jobs well.
Once our inspection was done we were invited into the packaging room where Mr Praconi showed us the centrifuge machine and other equipment.
He pulled out a frame filled with honey and cut pieces off for us to try, telling us that we would never taste honey so fresh.
Eating comb
He was right, it was amazing. We also learned that eating the comb helps your body heal its digestive tract. Like most honey producers worldwide, the Praconis have lost many bees and have seen a decline in honey production in the past two decades. This loss of bees around the world affects everyone. It affects honey producers like the Praconis by cutting into their livelihood. It affects all of us in that bees pollinate one-third of the food we eat. If you’d like to learn more about honey production or honey bees and their plight you may want to watch one or both of these movies, Vanishing of the Bees
* We visited Miele Praconi as part of Blogville Emilia-Romagna for more information please visit their website. The opinions in this post are our own.
I don’t hate bees but I avoid them. I understand that they only sting when they feel threatened however I react and swell up pretty badly. When bees are around, I’m always nervous that I’ll accidentally threaten them.
I understand the importance of them and hope their numbers improve though. I let them live if they fly into my house accidentally but tend to run out of the room until they leave 🙂
The fresh honey looks delicious. I may have to get over my fear of bees to find a local place to try some.
Haha okay I need to know, who said they hate bees?
Natalie, bees need all the help they can get. I will definitely check out your photos.
Angelina, I’ll never tell, unless you ask me after I’ve had a few drinks 🙂
Megan, grab your epipen and go eat some honey!
It’s stupid and ignorant for someone to say they hate bees because there afraid of them or don’t like the stingers , obviously the only reason one would get stung by one is by ones own stupidity, if you didn’t upset or bother them then you wouldn’t get stung, so don’t be ignorant and you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Most hatred comes from fear of the unknown.
I’m so jealous! How wonderful to be able to visit a beekeeper and to sample honey direct from the comb! I just bought some honey produced only 22 miles away from where I live, so I’ll have to see if a visit is possible. This is a great post, and I’m glad it was pointed out to me!
Now to watch Queen of the Sun… I’ve already watched Vanishing of the Bees – Fabulous – so you’ve given me a new documentary for my list!
It was amazing, if you have the opportunity, don’t miss out.
Thank you for posting this lovely memory!!!! Wow, my first day out with you all. I remember how into this you got. That honey was good too.
I don’t remember who said they hate bees, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t me!
It wasn’t you haha I remember you guys standing there laughing when Mr Praconi was shooting smoke up my skirt.
Actually, re-reading this post, I think I remember 😉
I thought you might 😉