Beekeeper. The word evokes an image of bucolic industry—busy, but not too busy. ("Fancy a spot of lemonade?" "Yes, please. Half a tick while I doff my veil.") But, in fact, beekeeping these days is a nerve-racking, high-risk business. You'll be buzzing along, doing all right, and then one day all your workers die. Bees are under massive pressure from a swarm of man-made and natural threats, including pesticides, air pollution, and a tiny mite that infests and kills entire bee colonies. Colonies in the United States have declined by almost 40% in recent years. As a result, bees are one of our most precious natural resources. Without bees, there is no pollination; without pollination, there are no fruits or vegetables. So as an apiculturist, you'd truly be performing a service to humanity. Just keep in mind that you may get stung.