Allergic to Bees?
We have already had a few people tell us "Oh, I'm allergic to bees; now I can't come visit you!"
If you have been to our farm in years past, you have already been exposed to lots of bees; our neighbors have an apiary. Consequently, our farm has always had thousands of bees around, even if they didn't belong to us!
We chose the most gentle breed of honey bee, which are less prone to sting. Our hives are not set up in our front or backyard; common sense requires that they are in an out of the way area. Our bees are so gentle that I can pass by their hives without incident, and even put my ear to the supers to listen to them buzz, all without wearing a protective bee suit! (Post Script: I later lost these bees to swarming and a "learning curve." I am in the market for bees at this time.)
Systemic reaction to bees (result of bee sting to someone allergic to bees) is a serious health issue. If your condition is known in advance, you can carry medication with you for just such a reaction, which can be prescribed by your doctor. Otherwise, a trip to the hospital is necessary. If I was allergic to bees, I would never knowingly wear a lure for bees, no matter if I was in town or country, and yet so many people who claim to have a severe allergy to bee stings constantly wear attractants for bees.
People who are allergic to bees are smart to discontinue use of perfume, perfumed soaps, scented shampoos and lotions, and perfumed laundry products. Icky stuff, anyway, and no great loss to anyone. Perfumed products are an assault to the nostrils of most people, and are absolutely debilitating to the many people suffering from chemical sensitivity!
Bees are everywhere, and are a necessary part of life. If you use common sense you can coexist with them without mishap!
A pair of hives in one of our pastures.
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