Everyone knows that honeybees are a very important part of our ecosystem and provide many benefits to us. There are countless reasons to want to start beekeeping. Do you want more pollinators for your garden? Do you want to produce your own honey or sell honey to make some extra cash? Or maybe you want to help maintain a healthy bee population before they are in danger of becoming extinct? For us, it was all of the above. We had been discussing ways to expand or homestead for a while and beekeeping was high on out priority list. I dove right into research mode and the amount of information I found was, to say the least, intimidating. And the bees hadn’t even arrived yet! If you can relate then maybe I can help. Hopefully I can sum up some of the most important tips in this post for you.
Is It Legal?
Before you invest hundreds of dollars in beekeeping equipment you must first check that beekeeping is legal in your city or town. Some towns may also put restrictions on beekeeping such as a maximum number of hives per lot or acre. Your state’s Department of Agriculture is a good place to start.
Additionally, you may want to consider your neighbors’ feelings on the matter. Will honeybees disrupt neighborhood activities? Will neighbors start to complain to the town board or council? Generally speaking, honeybees will travel within a 5 mile radius of their hive, so think about who’s property they may be visiting.
Educate Yourself
You will still have to do your own research – a lot of it. I suggest signing up for a beekeeping class or joining your local beekeeping association. This is where you will make connections with experienced beekeepers who are familiar with beekeeping in your local area. Different areas and climates will always present their own unique problems.
If you are unable to take a class, try to find a mentor in your area through a local beekeeping organization or even social media. We were unable to take beekeeping classes as we started this venture in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, we have great mentors! My parents started beekeeping quite a few years ago and have been a very reliable source of information and motivation.
Protect Yourself
This was a very important topic to me. I did not want to get stung! Realistically, you will get stung at some point, but there is protective equipment you can use to prevent this from happening. Some seasoned beekeepers only wear a Beekeeping veil
Assemble Your Hive (In the Right Spot)
There are a few different types of hives available to beekeepers (which I will cover in more detail in a future post). We chose the traditional Langstroth Hive. We were advised that these hives are expandable depending on our needs and most recommended for beginners. 
Now where to put the hives? The one piece of advice that was given to us time and time again was to face the entrance of the hives southeast. This seemed silly at first but upon further research, it made a heck of a lot more sense! The purpose of southeast orientation is so the bees can take full advantage of maximum morning sun. It will also protect the colony from wind and weather that comes from the North.
Secondly, a water source should be close by. If you do not have a natural water source, such as a stream or creek, a bird bath or bucket filled with pebbles and water should do (The pebbles ensure the bees have a safe landing pad in order to drink).
You may also want to consider the hive placement in relation to your dwelling or outdoor activity space. I originally had the idea in my head that our bees would be next to our vegetable garden for maximum pollination. My husband reminded me that I am in the garden multiple times a day and am still afraid of getting stung. Our garden is also very close to our firepit and patio where we entertain guests. We did not think our houseguests would appreciate swatting away bees all day long.
Order Your Bees!
You are now faced with yet another big decision. There are 2 options when ordering bees: A Nucleus Colony or Packaged Bees. A nucleus colony or a ‘nuc’ is a partially started colony that comes with an egg laying queen, established honey combs, pollen, and baby bees in various growth stages. A nuc is a much more expensive option and more difficult to transport meaning it will take longer to arrive. Packaged bees are simply bees in a package. You’ll get them sooner and much cheaper, but they will have to start their colony from scratch. If you have a proper mentor and are involved with the local beekeeping community don’t be intimidated by packaged bees! They will thrive just as well with some close care and attention.
Don’t forget this is a learning process! It is easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed at the start but with time comes experience. There will always be more to learn, season after season.
If you are interested in our new beekeeping journey (or our typical chicken keeping content) follow along with us here on our blog, or on our Facebook and Instagram pages!
