Bees & Honey

From: John Hughes <nysalor_at_18N6GCF9WjF8JbJxq4hhuX6oHF_oY_7qcriZ9THS_uFcpLvJMDa-qNwAWc5zzGiWDTqH>
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 13:19:25 -0800


> Why should every stead have beehives? They are labour intensive, difficult
> to look after except for the skilled apiarist, time and effort that can be
> better spent elsewhere. I know that there are practical reasons to have
bees
> other than honey, but bees have a range that would exceed the span of a
> single stead.

In the ancient world, honey was usually the only sweet food available, and highly prized because of this. Heortlings grow sugarbeet as well, but honey is still a highly prized and unique foodstuff that is required for all sorts of necessities, such as mead. While it would be a rare and blessed stead that could specialise in honey, it would be IMO a very rare stead that didn't have a hive or two. While beekeeping *is* difficult, in a stead where you produce 95%+ of all your food and goods, it is no more difficult than other necessary skills. Finally, a bee is one of the few animals depicted in Storm Tribe, and beekeeping is a Minlister cult skill. While there may be *some* steads without a brewer, it would be a sad and gloomy 'cold comfort' stead to live in. :)

John            

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