“There are bees and wasps and hornets everywhere,” said Dan Hauck. And now there are even more. Hauck is Blaine’s chief building official, and became interested in bees and beekeeping a few years ago.
“I really like honey a lot,” said Hauck. “I got a chance to taste some of this natural, raw honey. My cousin and I came up with the idea of let’s get some of our own honey going.”
He started a few hives in southern Minnesota, and decided he wanted a hive closer to home. Aveda’s corporate headquarters on the other side of town has a hive, and he thought if they could do it, maybe he could too.
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So now, with permission from the city, Hauck set up down a small beehive he takes care of in his free time.
A few times week after work he wanders down the path and checks on his bees. He wants to make sure the hive is still standing, and the bees are doing well. About once every two weeks, he opens up the hive to see how the colony is growing.
“I’m hoping by August there will be 50,000 of them in there. They need many to get enough honey and enough population to live through the winter.
He is sharing the story of his hive on Blaine’s website and facebook page, and hopes that his story might educate other people on bees too. Although, he admits he has gotten a little fixated.
“I listen to podcasts about bees, and kind of got obsessed with them a little bit,” said Hauck.
Beyond a fun hobby for himself, he is hoping that the bees can contribute to area, while helping out the neighboring community garden, and possible bring more beekeeping at the same time.
“If this works out, and I’m thinking it’s going to, we could have some other citizens of Blaine have some hives back here,” said Hauck, who hopes for a community apiary.
He’s not sure if the bees will survive the winter, or how much honey he will be able to harvest through the years, but he is enjoying the experience.
“I’m learning as it goes here, and that’s part of the fun of it.”
