Mosul journalist turns rooftop beekeeping hobby into sweet success

MOSUL — Anssam al-Khalidi, a journalist in her thirties from Mosul, has found unexpected success in rooftop beekeeping, producing 19 kilograms of wildflower honey in her first season.

“Every person has a hobby outside their profession — something they love and want to develop,” al-Khalidi told 964media. “I started beekeeping, which is a very beautiful hobby. Many friends helped me get the hives and taught me how to care for them in both winter and summer.”

Al-Khalidi launched the project with six hives and sold the honey at 35,000 dinars (about $24.80) per kilogram. During the winter, she fed her bees with sugar-based candy paste, keeping them nourished until spring, when they could forage nectar from nearby orchards and fields.

“The bee needs a lot of attention to produce honey,” she said. “An old friend, Ali al-Jubouri, encouraged me with the idea and informed me about hives for sale. I bought six hives and started the project. I learned a lot from friends and teachers at the Agricultural High School in Mosul.”

She described a challenging start. “At first, I was afraid and failed — I lost one hive,” she said. “But with encouragement from my family and step-by-step support from my father, the first season succeeded. I was able to restore the hive by producing a new queen.”

Her hives, set up on the rooftop of her house, produced honey she described as “spring honey,” also known as wildflower or thistle honey. Despite frequent bee stings, she adapted quickly. “I was stung many times, but over time I got used to it and learned how to handle the bees better.”

Al-Khalidi said she sold out her entire harvest and now hopes her experience can inspire others. “I hope to be a role model for girls who want to pursue productive crafts that can provide them with a source of income,” she said.