By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Hannah Adams Women’s Club recently hosted a session titled "Bee Keeping with Nancy Tella" at The Church of the Advent in Medfield, aiming to educate its members about the beekeeping hobby. Beekeeper Nancy Tella, with experience since 2021, shared insights into her journey as a beginner beekeeper and her learning process through the Norfolk County Beekeepers Association.
During the presentation, Tella emphasized the significance of education before purchasing a hive, recommending beginners to start with two hives. She discussed the vital role of understanding bees and hive maintenance due to the intricate knowledge about bee hierarchy. Tella elaborated on the three types of bees—workers, queens, and drones—each with specific roles in maintaining the hive's vitality, including honey collection, hive temperature regulation, and fostering new bees.
A key aspect highlighted by Tella was the hive's constant goal: survival through winter while safeguarding against potential threats. Bees exhibit defensive behavior by attacking outside bees, wasps, and perceived threats, posing a potential risk of stings to beekeepers, family members, and pets in close proximity to the hive.
The interactive session encouraged audience engagement, with attendees posing questions about starting beekeeping, hive creation, honey collection, and more. Tella adeptly addressed queries, providing valuable information about the hobby. She expressed her satisfaction in sharing her hive with family and friends, emphasizing the significant commitment and challenges associated with beekeeping, which may not be suitable for everyone.
The Hannah Adams Women’s Club in Medfield concluded their meeting with enhanced knowledge about the life cycle and behaviors of bees. Members left the session well-informed on how to embark on their own beekeeping journey in suburban areas.
The Hannah Adams Women’s Club's exploration of beekeeping with Nancy Tella proved to be an insightful and engaging session. Members gained valuable knowledge about the intricacies of beekeeping, from hive maintenance and bee hierarchy to the challenges and rewards of this fascinating hobby. Nancy Tella's expertise and willingness to share her experiences left a lasting impression, inspiring club members to consider beekeeping in suburban areas. The event not only enriched their understanding of bees' life cycles and habits but also provided a foundation for those intrigued by the prospect of becoming beekeepers themselves.
