Why should we take care of honey bees?

In Europe and Mediterranean regions, honey bees provide successful pollination and seeding for 90% of all flowering plants and 30% of all fruit.

It is well known that all pollinating insects (not just honey bees) are in extreme decline through environmental factors that are still unclear despite extensive scientific research.

At Nalanda Monastery we are providing everything possible to tend and serve a variety of honey bees that have a strong resistance to some of the environmental factors that oppose them in a safe and secluded environment for bees and visitors. Late summer gives us the opportunity to only harvest a surplus of the hives' honey and wax production to offer to the monastery kitchen, while leaving an ample store for the colony's own winter needs. In fact, the surplus of honey is a bonus of keeping them safe!

In addition to our flower and herb gardens, Maitreya Pure Land has the largest uncultivated field spaces in the local area (35,000 m2) that supports local wildlife ranging from pollinating insects and butterflies, small mammals and snakes, deer, badgers and all the way up to the owls, kestrels and black kites that mainly occupy the secluded river boundary of the property. 

We are able to allow these areas to naturally seed wild flower in Spring and early summer, and for a local farmer to harvest organically grown hay in summer to use as winter feed for his cows. This routine allows the field spaces to regenerate before the intense summer heat comes (hopefully) for a second seeding of late varieties of wild flower. This arrangement will provide healthy support for the honey bee colonies throughout Spring and Summer seasons.

We have a flowing natural water source as the southern boundary of Maitreya Pure Land and well established resin producing trees (cedars and pines), which are both essential elements for colony security.

We have 2 local beekeepers who are connected to the monastery, and a small local supplier of bees living very close by, who are all happy to give mentorship and local advice. In fact, our local Mayor is a beekeeper!

Our freshly painted hives

Each hive has been painted with beautiful peonies by Ven. Tenzin Gendun and covered with mantras selected by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to give the best possible benefit to animals.

2023 ~ very limited honey harvest

After proper assessment we harvested 4kg of honey from one hive (from a possible 15Kg) to offer to the kind sponsors of the project. Here's a quick summary of harvest from hive to jar: