Beekeeping may just be one of the easiest agricultural hobbies to take up, but don’t let its simplicity fool you — its impact extends far beyond the hive.

Pollinators such as bees, bats, butterflies and birds play a critical role in our food system. They’re responsible for about one in every three bites of food we eat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s a staggering contribution from creatures often taken for granted.

About five years ago, my family joined the growing community of hobbyist beekeepers. What began with a membership to a local beekeepers club and the purchase of our first hive quickly turned into a full-blown passion — one that not only supports our environment but has become a rewarding part of our homestead life.

We started with Italian honeybees, a common and gentle breed favored by both hobbyists and commercial beekeepers for their prolific honey production. Though not native to North America, our bees — which originally came from almond orchards in California — have adapted well to our surroundings.

They’re peaceful partners on our small farm. We’ve had no issues with swarming or aggression. Even during hive inspections, they remain docile and focused on their work.

Our hives are stacked wooden boxes, called supers, filled with wax-coated frames. These frames are where the bees build their combs, store honey and raise their young. At the heart of it all is the queen, tirelessly laying eggs while her worker bees gather nectar and pollen from nearby blooms, transforming it into liquid gold.

A few times a year, we suit up in our protective gear, light the smoker (which gently calms the bees) and perform a hive check. We look for wax-capped combs — a sure sign the honey is ready to harvest. When the time is right, we remove the full frames and bring them into our small processing space.

There, we use a heated knife to remove the wax seal and collect the honey and comb into five-gallon buckets. The process is sticky, messy and incredibly satisfying. Once we’re done, the empty frames are returned to the hive for the bees to reuse.

But we’re careful not to take too much. Our bees need their honey to survive, especially in colder months when blooms are scarce. We only harvest a few buckets each season, leaving the rest for the colony.

Our honey has been a hit with friends and family. Local honey is often praised for helping build immunity to allergens and for its use in soothing sore throats and minor wounds. Ironically, I’m not a fan of the taste — but I was the one who wanted the bees in the first place.

Beyond the sweetness of the honey, the real value lies in what the bees do every day. They’re vital to the pollination of crops, like cucumbers, melons, berries, coffee and even wildflowers. But honeybee populations are in danger—threatened by disease from Varroa mites, habitat loss and exposure to harmful pesticides.

We chose beekeeping as a way to help, but you don’t need to raise bees to support pollinators. Small, everyday actions can make a big difference.

Those actions can not only protect honeybees, but other bee species and pollinators.

Plant a pollinator-friendly garden filled with native plants and wildflowers. Leave out a shallow container of water so bees have a safe place to drink. Avoid pesticides and instead opt for natural or bee-safe pest control methods.

There are plenty of ways to help — many of them simple and inexpensive. The most important message is to “bee” kind, and do no harm. These tiny workers give us so much. It’s only fair we return the favor.