\u201cDad, I purchased several beehives for you. They will be here next year in \u2026 March to be exact,\u201d Levi Floyd expressed to his father, Terry Floyd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Terry replied, \u201cSon, no, I don\u2019t want no bees around here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s too late. You\u2019ll need to learn how to take care of them. I\u2019ll show you how to set YouTube up,\u201d Levi said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Terry, healing from a liver transplant while suffering from depression, lounged in his beige, well-worn recliner day after day, only watching the news and occasionally remembering fond memories of coaching softball at Coffee County High School. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel useless now, Teresa,\u201d he told his wife. \u201cI\u2019m used to 20-something girls counting on me and 40-something parents calling me and needing help with something or another.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Christmas of 2018. Bees were the furthest thing from Terry\u2019s mind. However, his wife and son Levi planted a seed of curiosity. Terry’s interest didn’t spark right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, the videos from YouTube were background noise. But eventually, the hives, stories from other beekeepers, and the pace of a new daily routine became fun. Before long, curiosity turned into fascination, and he was spending eight hours a day studying bees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt gave me something to do, something to learn,\u201d Terry described. \u201cAnd I needed that. I needed a reason to get outside again, to belong to something living.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beekeeping was more like \u201cbee-losing\u201d during the first year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI lost both hives,\u201d Terry laughed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of giving up, he tried again. By 2020, five hives turned into 20. What began as a reluctant project blossomed into a thriving reality \u2014 Arbee\u2019s Apiary was born. Terry\u2019s fascination with bees restored his sense of wonder. As he cared for the bees, he realized he felt more comfortable outside than he ever did in the recliner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Terry, the bees became more than a hobby; they became teachers. He still marvels at the queen bee\u2019s cycle of laying thousands of eggs daily, the hive\u2019s resilience, and the miraculous balance of God\u2019s design. Bees pollinate countless vegetables, fruits, and nuts, making them essential for human nutrition. They are significant and directly impact economic value, contributing to crop growth and farmers\u2019 livelihoods while providing healing properties through venom and honey production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c<\/em>My arthritis will go away for about a month after a sting,\u201d Terry shared. \u201cAnd scientists are even studying bee venom for breast cancer treatments. These little guys are healers, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/em>If someone doesn\u2019t believe in God, they should look at a beehive,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s proof of how everything is made to work together.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n A few of the coolest discoveries have been that worker bees live about 45 days in the summer and that queen bees lay 2,000 to 3,000 eggs daily. Another interesting fact is that if the queen bee dies, the worker bees will notice and choose a larva to become the new queen within 16 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Terry has found ways to manage the costs of beekeeping and advises anyone who is interested to keep the following in mind: <\/strong>\u201cA basic hive of bees costs $125; however, equipment can run closer to $200 due to rising lumber prices. Equipment can be homemade; however, it is often more convenient to purchase premade. This hobby requires significant space, commitment, and recurring expenses if bees are lost. You\u2019ll need to focus on the bees. They need a watchful, responsible eye in order to thrive,\u201d said Terry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the name Arbee\u2019s Apiary \u2014 a nod to his father-in-law, Arbie Hillis \u2014 he now produces hundreds of pounds of honey each season. Local customers look forward to his Facebook posts announcing fresh batches, and annual events like Manchester\u2019s Old Timers Day grant him the opportunity to share his products with pride. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen somebody tastes the honey and says, \u2018This is delicious,\u2019 I throw my chest out and think, \u2018That\u2019s my bees,\u2019\u201d said Terry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelling my honey, making beeswax chapstick, lotion, and candles have given me a second chance with purpose. I really love connecting with the community and sharing my craft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When not caring for the bees, Terry enjoys working, spending time with his family, and relaxing in a different comfortable chair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy wife and I decided to get rid of the beige recliner.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it held so many good, comfortable moments, it also reminded them of the \u201csick season.\u201d The new chair sits by the window, where sunlight pours in each morning. It\u2019s become Terry\u2019s quiet place where he reads scripture, sips coffee, and reflects on nature. Every day, he is reminded that healing isn\u2019t just for the physical body every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n