How To Get Started In Beekeeping
Introduction
If all you know about bees is they have a stinger in one end and you’ve always wondered how they milk the bees for honey and get it in those plastic bear shaped containers, you’ve come to the right place. Be forewarned bee keeping is fun, challenging, interesting and provides never-ending opportunities to learn and be humbled. You’ll also meet great people who are willing to share what they’ve learned and laugh about their bee keeping journey as well as lend a hand.
First order of business is answering the most asked question of all – by non-beekeepers – Do you get stung? Yes. The follow up question being does it hurt? Yes. Or as Bill Turnbull, author of “Confessions of a Bad Beekeeper: What Not to Do When Keeping Bees (with Apologies to My Own),” says:
” Yes, it does [hurt being stung], but that’s where the fun is. If bee didn’t sting, it would be a bit like keeping flies. If there’s no risk, there can be no adventure. And they only sting for a purpose; if they’re feeling threatened. Usually. I must confess I’ve suffered my fair share of stings. But on most occasions, I deserved it.”
Education First
The very first "education" item you'll need to know is if you are highly allergic to bee stings. Virtually all people have a reaction to bee stings in the form of localized pain and swelling. But some people have a reaction called anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition. If you have such a reaction, beekeeping is not for you.
There are many, many books and YouTube videos out there on beekeeping. Some are good and some are not. A highly recommended book is Beekeeping for Dummies (don't let the title offend you). It starts out assuming you know nothing about beekeeping and builds from there.
Consider joining a local association. Most beekeeping associations welcome new and prospective beekeepers and can be a valuable resource going forward.
Take a beekeeping class. Many associations and bee suppliers conduct beginner beekeeping classes. These classes can provide a wealth of information as well as a chance to meet other beekeepers.
Pick a Spot for Your Apiary
Location, Location, Location
If you are going to have bees, you obviously must have a place to put them. Where you put them is important and there are several things to consider:
- Place your hives where the bees' coming and going do not interfere with yours (or your neighbors). Bees can be kept successfully in suburban areas but refrain from putting them where you or your neighbors must often pass in close proximity to the hive(s). Putting them in the wrong spot will cause you much pain and make for angry neighbors.
- You will have to visit your hives often, so the location must be readily accessible.
- Place your hives in a sunny area (full sun is the best) with the entrance facing east or south. This helps the bees get out to forage earlier in the day in the spring and helps to protect the entrance from the intense afternoon sun in the summer.
- There should be suitable forage and water sources nearby. A bee will fly up to three miles to forage, but bees that must fly that far all the time will have difficulty thriving. A place where early succession plants like blackberries, sumac and privet grow is good. If you live in agricultural area, soybeans and cotton can be good nectar sources.
Register Your Apiary
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Arkansas law requires that you register your apiary. While this is an inconvenience, it also has its advantages. A major advantage is that registration makes the State Apiary Inspector available to help you with problems you may have with your colonies.
Apiary registration is supposed to be completed and approval obtained before bees are placed at a location. Understand that you are entitled to place bees on your own property and such colonies are approved. However, placing bees on someone else's property may or may not be approved. Questions about this are best taken up with the State Apiary Inspector (Jacob Bates, Apiary Inspector for Northern half of state - 501-231-0537)
See the ADA Apiary Regulations link on the menu or click here to get more information and the documents needed to complete the registration process.
Acquire Equipment
Perhaps a better name for this section is "Start Saving Your Money." Getting a start in beekeeping can be an expensive endeavor as there are several items that must be purchased or somehow acquired. For example,
- Protective gear - veil and gloves as a minimum. Most people choose to use a bee jacket or suit that includes a veil.
- Smoker
- Hive tool
- Hive components - what components you need depends on the type of hive you choose. For example: Langstroth (by far the most common), Top Bar, Warre, Long Hive (kind of a hybrid between a Langstroth and Top Bar), Flow Hive
Get Some Bees!
Purchase a Nuc and find a Mentor
Ok, you've done your homework by educating yourself, you've picked your spot, purchased your equipment and you're ready to get your bees! One of the most common ways to get some bees is to purchase a Nuc (short for nucleus) from a local supplier. A Nuc typically consists of a box containing five frames of bees, a laying queen, brood (baby bees), pollen and nectar.
You need to reserve your Nuc far in advance of getting them. Most suppliers here in Arkansas have their Nucs available for pickup in early to mid-May, but this is highly weather-dependent. But you'll need to reserve your Nuc several months in advance because the suppliers often sell out before the bees are actually delivered. It isn't too early to reserve your Nuc(s) in the fall before picking them up in the spring.
This is also the time to be looking for someone to mentor you. Keeping bees isn't particularly difficult, but there is a lot to learn. A mentor can make the difference between success and failure in beekeeping.
Other Ways to Get Bees
There are ways to get bees other than to purchase a Nuc. One way is to purchase what is called a "package" of bees. A package consists of only a supply of worker bees and a queen and is normally delivered via the mail. For years this was a primary method, but has been largely replaced by Nuc purchase.
You can get bees by catching or trapping swarms. How this is done is beyond the scope of this discussion though.