Homestead Beekeeping

 I am a practitioner and advocate of what I refer to as "Homestead Beekeeping".  Prior to the push of the past 100 years or so of modern beekeeping to maximize honey production at all costs, this was more common among non commercial beekeepers.  Of course back then, it was just "beekeeping" with no need for any other descriptor.

A Horizontal Top Bar Hive

I call it homestead beekeeping for 2 primary reasons.  The first being that its purpose is for self sufficiency.  The second is that it allows for a greater harvest of the products of the hive while accepting a smaller but more "normal" honey harvest.  Greater yield of things like wax and propolis allow the beekeeper, or someone they know, to make everything from beeswax candles  and soap to propolis toothpaste or tinctures for sore throat and much more.  These can then be used or traded as desired or needed.

Modern beekeeping, with it's focus on maximizing honey production requires a different hive management methodology and approach.  As opposed to the methodology and approach necessary for homestead beekeeping.  What is absolutely necessary for one may be anathema in the other.  Neither is right or wrong, simply different in their goals and objectives.

A vertical, stacked "Warre" hive

While modern beekeepers have a primary motive to make honey as their main driver, homestead beekeepers are more focused on what they can get out of the hive to help them make or obtain things useful to everyday life.  Thus, beeswax and propolis have increased value and honey takes a bit of a step down in overall value.

Nowadays, homestead beekeepers tend to use foundationless frames such as top bar hives or horizontal framed hives without foundation used in them.  This allows for an easier harvest of the whole comb with nothing inside such as wire or plastic to interfere with crushing and straining the honey combs.

A "foundation-less" modern frame

Crush and strain is typically preferable in homestead beekeeping as it allows a maximum amount of beeswax to be harvested with the honey.  Honey comb is much cleaner than brood comb for use in producing beeswax candles, soap, etc...  Thus its value is increased because it allows for a higher grade of wax for making items or trading/selling wax for a profit.

Also, the homestead beekeeper is just as likely, perhaps moreso, to have an extensive garden to both benefit from pollination in food harvest as well as to ensure local nectar and pollen sources

Other than that, hive health management is just as involved and necessary as any other approach to beekeeping.  While some may use so called "organic" methods because they lend themselves easier to homestead beekeeping, it is not a mandate.  Modern health management methods can be utilized just as well.

So, homestead beekeeping vs modern beekeeping isn't a "right" or "wrong" thing nor a "good" or "bad" thing.  They simply involve a different set of goals, objectives, and intentions.