The incredible lightness of beekeeping

by George!

by George!Don't worry: They only sting if they feel they are in mortal danger, says Archie Tassot of Tassot Apiaries Inc.

Seventh-grader Archie Tassot knows a thing or two about honeybees. His parents own Tassot Apiaries Inc. in Califon, after all. At Sunday's season opening of the Morristown Farmers Market, Archie shared a few insect insights. First off, bees die after stinging you--so you really have to aggravate them to get stung. "It's like, 'I'm going to die, so I might as well hurt you!'" Archie said.

And as for mating...the Queen literally rips off the drone's reproductive equipment. "The drone is done," Archie intoned. So next time you ladle a glob of honey onto your Grape Nuts, take a moment and thank the drones.

by George!Archie Tassot holds forth on bees at Morristown Farmers Market on Sunday.