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| Courtney all suited up! |
I think it’s important to note that whenever Courtney (my
daughter) and I first started to think about becoming beekeepers, we knew
absolutely NOTHING about beekeeping. We had never known anyone who kept bees,
had never been around bee hives and had no practical knowledge whatsoever of
beekeeping. So to say that we have started from scratch is no understatement!
We are still VERY new to beekeeping but ever since we’ve begun keeping bees my
friends keep asking me “How did you get started?” This post is a brief summary
of how we’ve gotten underway and advice I would give to others thinking about
becoming a beekeeper. I’m sure as we go along we’ll adapt and expand this list
because we’re learning more and more everyday but for now, here’s what I’d
advise anyone with a desire to get into beekeeping:
1.
Do your research. I’m learning that
beekeeping isn’t exactly a poor man’s hobby and it contains a large potential
for mess ups and failures along the way. Bees are a fascinating, addicting
creature that will suck you in before you know it so before you dive into the
expense of hives, suits, tools, etc. it will pay you to research all that is
involved before committing. One of the first things we did was to purchase a
book by Kim Flottum entitled The
Backyard Beekeeper. This book has proved invaluable to us and Courtney and
I have referenced it many times in the short time we’ve had bees. Another basic
book we’ve purchased has been Beekeeping
for Dummies by Howland Blackiston that offers practical, hands on advice
for any novice. There are other great beekeeping guides out there but these
have been our choices and are working so far!
Additionally, I would advise anyone interested in beekeeping to do
research online. I know that I have only tapped the tip of iceberg but some of
great websites I have found so far include: Brushy
Mountain Bee Farm, NC State’s BEES
Apiculture Program, and Honey
Bees Online.
2.
Shop local. I have quickly learned
that beekeeping varies by region. Issues beekeepers battle here in hot, humid
South Carolina may not be the same things encountered by beekeepers in cool,
wet Washington state. As you do research online, keep your particular region in
mind and find some locals to talk to and learn from. We quickly figured out the
need to connect to other people in our area who were battling the same conditions
we were so we opted to join our local
beekeepers association and to connect with a local beekeeping store, Bee Well. These two steps has been
such a smart move! We can’t do life alone and we certainly can’t become
beekeepers alone! Find local people, local associations, and local businesses
that can support your new hobby and all of the questions that are certain to
come with it.
3.
Find a mentor. We kinda stumbled
onto a mentor and I will be the first to admit I never had any idea just what a
smart move this was. I have quickly learned that there are two kinds of
beekeepers: one that wants to keep all of their beekeeping secrets to
themselves and the one that wants to share them all. Find you an individual who
has a few years of beekeeping under their belts and shadow them for a while.
Courtney and I actually helped our mentor work his hives several times before
ever actually committing to becoming beekeepers ourselves. Doing this helped us
to know whether or not we were cut out for the adrenaline rush of hundreds of
bees swarming and buzzing around you all at once! Our mentor came out and
helped us install our first hive and has been there for the countless questions
we’ve had along the way. Becoming a successful beekeeper includes finding a
mentor for sure!
4.
Keep an open mind. As I have read
all of these beekeeping books, done research online, connected with our local
beekeepers association and stores and worked alongside our mentor I have
discovered one consistent thing. EVERY BEEKEEPER DOES THINGS JUST A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENTLY. Some beekeepers prefer 10 frame hives, others 8 frame. Some
beekeepers prefer top bar feeders, others entrance feeders….and the list goes
on. For me, this is one of the unique mysteries of beekeeping that I find
terribly intriguing. Everyone seems to have established their own little
special way to keep bees and it encourages me to know that I may not have to do
things “just like the book says” to be a successful beekeeper. It also causes
me to be stop and listen to any conversation taking place about bees. I am
finding that I learn something new everyday and that in itself is a reason to
become a beekeeper!
5.
Be patient. Whenever I first began
this journey, I felt terribly overwhelmed because as any beginning beekeeper
will tell you, there’s a lot to learn! It would have been very easy to quit
before even really beginning because of the enormity of it all, but I would
encourage you to simply be patient. Take it slow. Understand there are going to
be challenges, disappointments, and lots of questions but also lots of
accomplishments and rewards. Take a deep breath and just go for it!
