What Should I Know About Beekeeping?

If you like the idea of taking up beekeeping, you're going to need to know a few basic things before you start. You have to learn as you go, and no one wants to discover they aren't in the right situation for beekeeping after they've made a big investment.

First, ask yourself if you have the space to keep bees. After all, most people need to at least have a reasonably sized back yard to hold their hives. Beekeeping from an apartment balcony isn't likely to be successful, though there are a few urban beekeepers who manage a hive or two even in Manhattan.

Second, think about the available food for the bees in your area. If your colony is going to survive (especially in areas with cold winters) and if you're going to get a reasonable amount of honey, you'll need to make sure that there is plenty of plant life in your area. Within two miles, you should have plenty of trees and flowers that are accessible and will be blooming during the warm part of the year. While bees will go further for food, this is the best bet for successful beekeeping.

An east facing hive is generally best, so decide whether it'll be possible to set yours up this way. The earlier the bees see the sun, the faster they'll get to work. Nectar and pollen are most available in the early part of the day, since some flowers close in the heat. While an eastern exposure isn't required for your insect friends, it can really be a big help.

Now, think about your hives. Will you be building or buying them? Beekeeping will require you to do one or the other, and purchased hives will need some assembly once they arrive. Wooden hives with supers and frames are the most common type and provide the best yield, though there are some other types of hobbyist hives available as well. If you don't like working with wood, be prepared to buy your hives. If you don't have a lot of money, think about expanding your carpentry skills.

How much time do you have to invest in your bees? They do most of the work on their own, but beekeeping is going to require some maintenance. These bees will require you to pay attention to their health and keep pests out of the hive, as well as harvesting the honey and wax.

If you don't live in an isolated environment, expect to teach your friends, neighbors and family members about the benefits of bees, too. Many people feel that a hive in their neighborhood is a hazard. They need to learn that bees are generally not prone to sting, and that (especially with shrinking biodiversity) having a hive is an environmental service. Once they understand what your bees will do for their roses, they'll be a lot more friendly, but you have to help them attain that understanding.

If there are allergies in your home or in your neighborhood, you may need to reconsider, too. Not a lot of people are allergic to honeybees, but this isn't the hobby for people who are. While bees will never sting you for fun, beekeeping is a hobby where you'll get stung from time to time. This is expected, and over time, you'll react to it less and less, but it can pose a health hazard for those with allergies. Beekeeping can be an incredibly interesting and rewarding hobby, but you need to think about it first to make sure that you're ready for it!