Beekeeping 101
April 27, 2020
Are you interested in raising honey bees? Does having your own beehive sound intriguing? See how to get started with our Beekeeping 101 series!
Almost anyone can master the skills necessary to be a good beekeeper. Your journey to successful beekeeping begins with preparation. You should learn all that you can about bee hive management before your bees arrive. Here are some things to consider about keeping bees:
Pros to Beekeeping
There are several reasons why you might want to raise honey bees... more
March 13, 2019
If you’ve decided to move forward with raising bees, let’s get down to business: Learn your beekeeping rules and regulations, choose the right location for your hives, and make sure you have the right habitat. Here are answers to your practical questions.
Note: This is the second post of a Beekeeping 101 series. If you wish, go back to the first post to fully understand the pros and cons of raising bees.
Know The Laws
Your county or municipality may have restrictions on beekeeping, such as how... more
March 12, 2019
What beekeeping supplies, clothing, and equipment will you need to raise bees? Here are the items that will help you get off to a good start.
In our previous post, we discussed some of the basics of getting started beekeeping—knowing your local laws, selecting the right location, and providing the right habitat.
Now let’s get into the clothing and equipment that you’ll need to handle your bees.
Beekeeping Clothing
Begin with the basics of beekeeping clothing. Always have a veil for your face... more
March 12, 2019
You can’t be a beekeeper without any bees! Here’s how and where to obtain a colony of honey bees for your apiary.
The Basics of Bee Society
Honey bees are social insects with a structured society. The queen bee is the single most important bee in the hive, but she can’t do all the work alone!
There are three basic roles in the bee community: the worker, the drone, and the queen.
Worker bees are females and are responsible for a variety of activities, such as tending the queen and her eggs,... more
March 11, 2019
Before your bees arrive, you must consider where they are going to live. There are three basic types of beehives. Let’s figure out which style is right for you.
In our last post, we discussed beekeeping clothing and equipment. Now let’s talk about a home for your bees …
Most new beekeepers purchase hive components ready to assemble, but it’s certainly possible to build your own hive. If you do, it is very important to follow the exact measurements for the type of hive you desire. Incorrect... more
March 11, 2019
Is there anything tastier than fresh, local honey? Once you’ve got your honey bee colony established, it’s time to start collecting your own supply of honey! Here are some tips and things to consider.
“The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey… And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it.”
–Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A. A. Milne
Collecting Your Own Honey
Having an endless source of honey right in your backyard may sound luxurious, but many new beekeepers have... more
March 11, 2019
A very important part of successful beekeeping deals with honey bee health. Learn about the most common bee pests and diseases and how to manage them in your apiary.
This is the last installment of our Beekeeping 101 series—your hives should be humming along now!
Common Bee Pests, Diseases, and Problems
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)
During the winter of 2006, beekeepers began to report much larger than normal losses of bee colonies. These colonies would fail suddenly, with most of the... more
Would you like to raise honeybees in your backyard? Welcome to our free Beekeeping 101 series—a beginner’s guide in 7 chapters. In this guide, we talk about how to get started raising bees, the clothing and equipment needed, different hive styles, collecting honey, and common bee diseases. If you like the idea, consider an online beekeeping class to learn more!
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