ClearBags Honey by Benny

Did you know that most honeybees in a beehive are female? There are very few male bees, called drones, in each hive. The queen bee and all the worker bees are female. We learned this fun fact while speaking with Benny Wilkins, owner of ClearBags and beekeeper hobbyist. Benny learned to keep bees when he was 11 years old. He recalled laughing hysterically as he watched his father try to catch a hive that swarmed in their yard in Arizona. His father proved successful in his attempt, and the beekeeping began. For the next 3 years, until they moved to Missouri, the Wilkins family kept bees. Benny learned the trade. Their hives grew to 150, and they sold their honey for $2.00 a gallon.

 

Many years later, in 2010, Benny, now living in California, once again saw a swarm in his yard and decided to catch it. The bees were happy and full of honey, so he was able to simply scoop them up with his hands and shake them into a bee box. Just like that, “Benny’s Honey” was born. For the last 10 years, Benny has been keeping bees. In addition to the bee boxes in his yard at home,  he also has some on the ClearBags property in California. The honey from these bees is referred to as “ClearBags Honey”. Benny has never sold any of this honey; he prefers to give it away. He shares it with family, friends, and employees. Over the years, hundreds of people have benefited from a jar of Benny’s Honey or ClearBags Honey.

 

Benny is careful to always leave enough honey for his bees. They survive off the honey all winter long as they huddle together to stay warm and protect their queen. In the spring, they are once again busy collecting pollen and making honey. Just a few weeks ago, there was a swarm high in a tree by the ClearBags building. Benny and his son Forrest used a forklift to catch the bees and helped them into a bee box. They are now happily working hard at making honey– honey that will be enjoyed soon by local neighbors and friends.
 
Benny would love to share his honey with all of you. Unfortunately, that is not possible, but he has 10 jars of ClearBags Honey he would like to send out to ten lucky readers. He has thought of a number between 1 and 1000. Please email your guess to [email protected]. The closest 10 guesses to the number will receive a jar of Benny’s Honey shipped to them for free.  
We hope all of you are all staying healthy, happy, and hopeful. 
 
The ClearBags Team