HONEY, revered as one of the oldest sweeteners in production, finds its heartbeat in the hands of local beekeepers dedicated to the art of honey production. In the heart of St Thomas, at the forefront of this sweet endeavour is Windel Sylver, a 30-year-old beekeeper who has immersed himself in the world of bees for over a decade.

Sylver’s journey into beekeeping began in 2012, when his older brother stumbled upon a beehive on their property. Initially sold to a friend who was a bee farmer, the bees proved persistent, returning and creating hives. By the second sale, Sylver’s brother had decided to embrace the challenge. But when his brother temporarily left for work overseas, he was entrusted, with no prior experience, to take over the beekeeping venture.

“Back then, the only thing I could do was just look into the box; I don’t know what I’m looking for,” Sylver humorously shared with the Jamaica Observer.

Seeking assistance, his brother enlisted another beekeeper to train young Sylver until his return, resulting in the establishment of eight colonies. Despite the mighty stings endured during the learning process, Sylver became desensitised.

“Once you get used to the sting, you have no fear again,” he stated calmly.

Navigating the unpredictable demands of beekeeping, Sylver faces challenges during inclement weather when worker bees struggle to gather food from pollen. In these times, he improvises.

“We use cream soda and syrup or sugar and water,” he revealed to the Business Observer.

The beekeeper also contends with natural threats, as red ants and frogs can snatch away up to a hundred bees in a single night. Initially lacking a passion for beekeeping, Sylver’s perspective evolved over time.

“At first, I didn’t have a passion for beekeeping, but in the field now, I wouldn’t want to do anything different because I find the passion for it, and it’s profitable as well,” he said.

Upon his brother’s return, young Sylver was rewarded with a piece of land and 10 boxes of bees, marking his proudest memory. While he was unable to state figures on his profits for this year, he instead revealed that a five-gallon bucket of honey from his endeavours sells for $40,000 to $45,000, and according to Sylver, he sells 10 buckets of honey in no time.

While starting a bee farm is comparably inexpensive, simple, and convenient, Sylver underscores the necessity for dedication.

“If you’re going to start by buying a box of bees, that’s supposed to be $25,000 now; the frames are around $150; and the foundation to go with the frame is like $3,000 per pound,” he revealed in describing the initial costs. “You have to look after them to gain back what you spend.”

Once the apiary is up and running, the bees do almost all the work for you, but Sylver did not honey-coat the truth, stating that starting a bee farm is not for the faint of heart.

“You have to have a passion for it; otherwise, it won’t work because it takes work,” he stressed.

Reflecting on the financial benefits and the security he has felt since embracing beekeeping, Sylver shares that the tradition is being passed down through his family. While he is currently training his nephew, he also envisions his son continuing the legacy.

“I have a son, and I’ve already ordered a bee suit for him. I said to him, even if it’s not to his liking, he has to do it until he reaches the age to decide what he wants to do,” Sylver said sternly.