Bees for the long emergency

I'm rethinking beekeeping, not for an immediate project, but down the road a ways.

Initially we considered bees for honey. That wasn't a compelling need, given that our family doesn't eat a lot of the stuff.

But two more uses have come up, which might tip the balance. First, honey as a general sweetener, rather than for its own taste. It could be a useful replacement for sugar, once the white gold gets scarce.

Second, beeswax for candles. See, perhaps we should increase our candle usage at night, decreasing electrical light. This could be a good habit to get in to, and help us minimize electricity use as we shift towards solar (not very effective up here in shadowy Vermont). More candles means DIY candles, and beeswax could be our best bet.