Getting Started: First Things First!

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!