- Do you like trying new things?
- Are you adventurous?
- Did you know that you can do something to help our environment?
- Want to create your own cool fun?
Seriously, instead of just reading about keeping bees, why not actually try it for yourself? Do you have a backyard and a little spare time? Why not give it a try?
Even if you don't know the first thing about keeping bees, and yes I know that may seem intimidating, there are many great resources to help you get started. There are videos for beginners and an unlimited supply of books available. Local beekeeping associations are a great place to start, some even offer short courses so you can get some hands on training. You can also
meet some local bee keepers there that are an invaluable source of information. Some local county extension offices also can be a good place to start, they may also be able to put you in contact with local bee keepers that can answer your questions. The internet is also a huge resource.
If you need some help finding information, videos, books, local beekeeping associations, let me know and I will help you out all I can. Just google 'beekeeping basics' to start with lots of free info.
So what do you need to know first? Most communities allow residents to keep bees in their yards, but not all do or they may have restrictions on it. It's a good idea to check your local ordinances to make sure. Decide if you have the right type of location in your yard. A spot with full sun or as much sun as possible is best, avoid shade as it can attract pests. The entrance can face any direction but since daylight directly effects the length of a bees daily work schedule, most keepers face the hive southeast to take advantage of the early morning light.
Keeping your hive off of the ground will keep it dry, also avoiding problems. There are several methods for making a hive stand, a common one is using 4 cinder blocks, making two stacks of two each. Another benefit of a hive stand is the added height so you don't have to bend over as much when you're working the bees. Placing the hive away from high traffic areas is a must.
While it's generally true that honey bees wont bother you if you don't bother them, you certainly don't want it next to the patio or kids play area. Also not recommended is near your property line, you don't want to make the neighbor's nervous if they are not bee people.
Before you buy your bees, learn something about how to manage them. Brushy Mountain Bee Farm has a great video for beginners, taking a bee keepers short course is also a good idea, then there are all the books that are available. After you've done your research and you still don't feel like everything's clicked with you or if the information overload feels overwhelming, don't worry about it. All that's actually normal. The best way to learn beekeeping is doing.
Yes, I can tell you that keeping bees is rewarding, challenging, educational, and loads of fun; but telling you simply doesn't compare to you experiencing it yourself. We think that honey bees are unbelievably intelligent and have loved learning so much about them. Most people have some questions about bees once they learn that we keep them and we love sharing as much information with them as we can. Because we keep bees and sell honey, we have met many new people and made a lot of friends over the years. Sometimes I like to open a hive and just watch them for a while just because they are neat to watch. And yes, keeping bees is one of the coolest things we've ever done.
