Husband, Wife Beekeepers Start Business During Pandemic
2020-10-27
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1James Cook and his wife Samantha Jones started their beekeeping work eight years ago.
2"You have to be a little crazy," Cook said. He and Jones knew the problems their bees face.
3These include harmful organisms called parasites and insect-killing farm chemicals.
4Even so, they were hopeful.
5The year 2020 was to be their year to go into business on their own after working several years for another beekeeper.
6Cook, Jones and their bees spent the past winter in California's huge almond farms.
7In the spring, the farms, or orchards, are full of white flowers that turn into nuts.
8The crop is possible because of the many beekeepers who travel with their hives to pollinate the nation's crops.
9Then the coronavirus health crisis hit.
10Cook and Jones became concerned.
11"Do we stay? Do we go?" they asked each other.
12By that time, they had taken their hives from California's San Joaquin Valley to another temporary home.
13Their plan was to let the bees recover from the agricultural work and their contact with farm chemicals.
14There, they raised "nucs."
15These are groups of bees with new queens that can be used to start a new hive.
16The couple sells them to other beekeepers to replace bees that are lost over a season.
17Selling nucs and almond pollination represent about two-thirds of their business.
18The other one-third is honey-making.
19They make honey during the summer at their permanent base -- a farm in Wisconsin.
20Agricultural workers are considered essential.
21Beekeeping generally does not require Jones and Cook to be near other people.
22So, they decided to wait out the coronavirus restrictions in California.
23Then they returned with their bees back to Iola, Wisconsin.
24There, they set out to create their brand, Bird and the Bees Honey.
25The bird is their parrot, which often rides in their truck.
26The parrot also happens to like honey.
27This summer, Cook and Jones and their small crew worked day and night to build a honey factory out of old truck trailers.
28They were extremely tired and in debt because they took loans to get the business up and running.
29But they were also excited.
30The 38-year-old Jones noted how much of the honey available in stores is mixed and cooked.
31"And I thought that people deserved good honey," she said.
32Unlike other agricultural crops, honey also can be stored for a long time.
33That is a good thing for Cook and Jones, because coronavirus restrictions have left them with fewer places to sell their products.
34Farmers markets' have been limited.
35So have restaurants and breweries.
36Such businesses also buy and use honey.
37Cook, who is 35, said the experience of starting a business in these difficult times will make them more resilient.
38"I think beekeeping sort of taught me...you kind of need to look for the optimism and the beauty that you can find," he says.
39I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1James Cook and his wife Samantha Jones started their beekeeping work eight years ago. 2"You have to be a little crazy," Cook said. He and Jones knew the problems their bees face. These include harmful organisms called parasites and insect-killing farm chemicals. 3Even so, they were hopeful. The year 2020 was to be their year to go into business on their own after working several years for another beekeeper. 4Cook, Jones and their bees spent the past winter in California's huge almond farms. In the spring, the farms, or orchards, are full of white flowers that turn into nuts. The crop is possible because of the many beekeepers who travel with their hives to pollinate the nation's crops. 5Then the coronavirus health crisis hit. Cook and Jones became concerned. 6"Do we stay? Do we go?" they asked each other. By that time, they had taken their hives from California's San Joaquin Valley to another temporary home. Their plan was to let the bees recover from the agricultural work and their contact with farm chemicals. 7There, they raised "nucs." These are groups of bees with new queens that can be used to start a new hive. The couple sells them to other beekeepers to replace bees that are lost over a season. Selling nucs and almond pollination represent about two-thirds of their business. The other one-third is honey-making. They make honey during the summer at their permanent base -- a farm in Wisconsin. 8Agricultural workers are considered essential. Beekeeping generally does not require Jones and Cook to be near other people. So, they decided to wait out the coronavirus restrictions in California. Then they returned with their bees back to Iola, Wisconsin. There, they set out to create their brand, Bird and the Bees Honey. 9The bird is their parrot, which often rides in their truck. The parrot also happens to like honey. 10This summer, Cook and Jones and their small crew worked day and night to build a honey factory out of old truck trailers. They were extremely tired and in debt because they took loans to get the business up and running. But they were also excited. 11The 38-year-old Jones noted how much of the honey available in stores is mixed and cooked. "And I thought that people deserved good honey," she said. 12Unlike other agricultural crops, honey also can be stored for a long time. That is a good thing for Cook and Jones, because coronavirus restrictions have left them with fewer places to sell their products. Farmers markets' have been limited. So have restaurants and breweries. Such businesses also buy and use honey. 13Cook, who is 35, said the experience of starting a business in these difficult times will make them more resilient. 14"I think beekeeping sort of taught me...you kind of need to look for the optimism and the beauty that you can find," he says. 15I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 16Martha Irvine and Carrie Antlfinger reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 17________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19crazy -adj. foolish or unreasonable 20hive -n. a place where bees live 21pollinate -v. to give a plant pollen from another plant of the same kind so that it will produce seeds and reproduce 22solitary -adj. separate from other people or things 23brand -n. a kind of product identified by its own name that is made by a company which sells and markets the product 24deserve -v. that someone should have or be given something 25resilient -adj. about to become strong, healthy or successful after something bad happens, able to come back into shape after being pulled or stretched 26optimism -n. a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future 27We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.