Posts Tagged ‘Beginner Beekeeping’

Contrary to what you might think starting a beekeeping business is not that difficult. It doesn’t require a lot of knowledge, special skill or even a large investment. It does involve learning a little about bees and the types of things you will need. Find out More

Although starting is not difficult, most beekeepers enjoy their new found business because it is a project in which you will continually learn.

-First Step-
Your first step in a beekeeping business is to read about beekeeping and the process, then you will need to purchase the equipment you need. Stay away from used equipment, or if you do purchase used equipment be sure to get it inspected by an expert. You don’t want to purchase hives that have had a previous virus, or illness, and which scares away new bees.

-Second Step – Figuring out the Type of Hive You Want-
In most cases it’s hard to give a general “best” hive to buy. It really depends on the region you are in. The best thing you can do is talk to local beekeepers and ask them what they use, and which works best for that area.

-Third Step-
You now need to add bees to your hive, and you can do that in one of three ways. You can use a nucleus, a package, or a swarm.

The nucleus is where you buy a 3 to 5 frame, hive with a brood and a laying queen. You usually buy a “nuc” with bees of all ages. You will also need to feed the bees immediately after installation and until they get used to their new home.

*Package*
This is where bees are sold by the pound with a laying queen that is inside the main bee cage. The package comes with a sugar feeder so the bees won’t starve while you transport them. The length of time it takes to install a package depends on where you live, and you should get advice from a local beekeeping association, or beekeeper.

*Swarms*
There are beekeepers that catch swarms and they use these to supplement their hives, but this system sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t, because of the risk of the onset of Tracheal Mites or Varroa. The good thing about this method is that the swarms march right in and go to work immediately.

-Fourth Step – Your Equipment-
Your best bet is to start getting different suppliers and comparing prices. In the first year though, you probably won’t need an extractor, because your harvest will likely be small. You probably want cut comb honey instead of extracted honey for that first year.

*A Smoker*
Depending on the type of hive you get, you may need a smoker, as these help calm the bees while you are doing your inspection. The best of these comes in copper, so it lasts for a long time.

*Your Protective Suit*
You need some type of protective suit, and you don’t want to skimp here. A little piece of netting on a flimsy hat won’t do. You need something that wont com loose and let a bee get caught inside.

You don’t need to overspend here, and so you want a dealer that is honest, not someone who will try to sell you every product on the market.

As you can see, you don’t need a lot of equipment, and for a lucrative business, you don’t have to make much of an initial investment, but you do need to read up on bee husbandry, so that you do a good job of managing your bees.

Organic beekeeping and natural beekeeping are similar, yet different. In this article, I’m going to explain to you the very subtle differences and what makes them different. Hopefully this will clarify the differences for you in a simple and straightforward approach.

Ok, let’s get to it…

Organic beekeeping is like natural beekeeping, except that it is governed by very stringent regulations set by the FDA. You can be an all natural beekeeper, yet still not meet all the requirements of an organic beekeeper.
Natural beekeeping is a term that has been set by the beekeepers themselves, so it is not really regulated by legalities, whereas organic producers are. Legality…that is the main difference between organic beekeeping and “natural” beekeeping.

There are actually three main factors that both the natural beekeeper and the organic beekeeper focus on, the hive, and the place where the bees get their nectar from, and the environment the bees are in. Let’s take a closer look at all three and go into a bit more detail on each of these three main factors….

The Place where the Nectar Comes From
The reason why there are so few organic beekeepers is because the FDA requires that the hives be located in isolated areas away from population, traffic, farm fields that are treated with chemicals, industry, and away from landfills. Now the hard part is that bees fly as far away as four miles. That is why the area has to be isolated. Now, natural beekeeping is not as stringent, but natural beekeepers are ever watchful for stagnate water, chemicals in the air, and want to know where the bees are getting their nectar from and keeping it as clean as possible from harmful chemicals.

Most commercial bee keepers do not practice natural beekeeping techniques. This has lead to an overall weakening of the bee colonies, because of the amounts of chemicals these commercial beekeepers use to avoid mites and other illnesses. They also feed their colonies with supplements and syrups, which beekeepers, who practice natural beekeeping do not.

The Management of the Hive
Most natural beekeepers want well constructed hives, which are designed well with the best interest of the bee in mind. They tend to get hives that are made out of cedar, because this type of wood keeps its warmth better and doesn’t tend to warp.

Natural beekeepers will also pay attention to ventilation, water sources, and the location of the apiary, and the areas from which the nectar will be extracted. The water sources will need to be clean. Bees tend to cool their hive in the summer with water droplets, and are not really picky about where they get their water from.

Hopefully this article will help you realize the difference in natural and organic beekeeping. This information can assist you when starting out or learning how to start beekeeping, or if you are just beginning beekeeping.
Now, get out in the sun and start your beekeeping today!

When you first start a beekeeping business you may feel overwhelmed with the huge amount of choices you have when it comes to beekeeping equipment. There are a lot of beekeeping product suppliers, and unless you are familiar with the basic equipment you will need, you won’t know what basic beekeeping tools you will need, and which you won’t. In this article, we will go over the basic equipment you need, and what you absolutely must have, and what you can do without.
-The Most Important Equipment is the Hive-
First you need to think about the hives you get. The hive is the absolute most important piece of equipment you have, and you need to take the time to educate yourself and find the right hive for your needs, the type of beekeeping you want and the area you are in.
When you choose your bee hive you can’t let the cost affect your decision. You need to choose a hive that is well constructed, made of quality wood. If you can find red cedar, all the better. You see, cedar smells good and is also very attractive. Pine is also used for hives but it isn’t as stable as other types of wood. Hives that are made of cedar will not warp and the oils keep the wood very stable.
Once you have looked at different types of hives and asked other local beekeepers what the best hive is for your area, and have chosen the one you want, then its time to go on and look for other equipment.
-The Bees Themselves-
At this point you will need to decide on whether or not you plan on buying a bee colony, or whether you plan on harvesting a swarm. It is easier to buy them, and less dangerous and risky than harvesting them, although it is a little more expensive too.
-The Smoker-
Your next essential item is the “smoker.” This item is what allows you to check the hive without being stung. A puff or two of smoke calms the bees down and lets you check the hive while they are disoriented. The smoker allows you to manage the hives safely. When you don’t use one, you need to have a top-bar hive, or you risk the chance of being stung.
-Protective Apparel-
You should also get some protective clothing like a bee suit so that you protect yourself from being stung, while you work on the hives. The protective clothing also keeps the honey bees from getting into your clothing. Not only that, but a bee suit will also keep you cooler when you work in the sun.
-Hive Tools and Gloves-
You need to use hive tools to extract the honey and the wax from the hive, you also need the tools to open the hive up. Hive tools come in handy for everything you need that relates to hives.
Gloves are also an item that you might consider getting. Gloves will keep bees from stinging your hands and wrists. They will also help you keep bees from going up into your skin, and stinging you.
Other smaller items you will need are bee feed and honey comb supplies, which the supplier can help you acquire. Essentially that is all the equipment you will need to start your beekeeping business. As you can see, for a business, the investment is minimal. This is good news if you are looking for a home based business that will bring in that extra income you need.

People who look for the perfect home business, often overlook a great option…that of beekeeping. Apiculture, as its also known is a great business, because the cost is minimal, there is a need for the product, and it is all natural and environmentally friendly. It’s a great way to make extra money for your family, while at the same time supplying yourself with honey, wax and other useful products.
-What You need to Start your Beekeeping Business-
You really don’t need a lot to start this type of business. You don’t even really need a lot of space, because hives can even be kept in a small garden or even in a rooftop garden. But they should be kept close to plants that produce nectar, like meadow flowers, or clover. Bees also like oilseed rape, so if you are in an area where that is grown, a beekeeping business would be ideal. Now this doesn’t mean it has to be right next door, because bees travel as many as four miles to get their nectar.
Now, once you have decided where to have your bees, you need to choose the type of hive you want. The type of hive that is most used in beekeeping is the Langstroth hive, so called because it was the name of the inventor. This is the wooden box with frames of wax that come in the honeycomb pattern.
-Learn Before You Start-
A beekeeper manages the hive in such a way that the honey production is kept at a maximum. It does take some knowledge and skill, and anyone who is thinking about starting a beekeeping business, needs to learn, maybe not everything about beekeeping, but at least the basics. If you are seriously thinking about this new enterprise, then you should pick up a few books on the subject, and if possible join a local beekeepers association. You will learn a lot from being around other beekeepers.
-The Tools you will need-
The great news is that beekeepers don’t need a lot of tools, especially if they are only managing one or two hives. You will need a hive tool, which will let you open the hive and inspect it. You will need the hive and the bees. You will also need some protective clothing and a smoke box.
You want a smoke box because it has a calming effect on bees, and when you puff some smoke into the hive it calms the bees, and lets you inspect better.
-Getting Your Bee Colony-
The easiest way to get your bee hive is to buy a ready made colony, which you can buy from a beekeeper supplier. If this way doesn’t appeal to you, then you might want to find a nucleus, which is a queen and several hundred workers that come from another colony. You can place them in your hive and then feed them with sugar water until they are established, and can find their own nectar.
The third way of getting your bee colony is the most dangerous and involves getting a swarm. You have to find a swarm which is comprised of a queen and her thousands of worker bees. You will find these in trees. All you have to do is cut the branch or shake the branch and make the bees fall into your box. Take your box to the hive and lay a sheet on the ground. Shake the bees out of your box onto the sheet and the bees will usually crawl up into your hive.

These days, everyone seems to be preoccupied with going green, eating right, and growing, buying and eating organic products, and this includes organic honey. If you have noticed, there aren’t that many organic honey producers, and that is not necessarily because beekeepers don’t use natural beekeeping methods, but because the organic regulations are extremely strict.
Let’s take a closer look at Organic Beekeeping and what makes such a product truly organic…
-The Definition of Organic Beekeeping-
When you implement organic beekeeping, it means you use methods, and treatments that are natural, and that you avoid any type of pesticide or harmful materials. The organic beekeeper uses nutritional supplements and specialized practices which create strong honeybee colonies. Yet, everything he uses can be safely handled or even eaten by the self same beekeeper. And organic beekeeper has to follow FDA rules for organic farming, and this involved preventing disease, and treating diseases without pesticides, or chemicals.
-Hive Insulation-
An important part of the organic beekeepers job is keeping the bees healthy without having to use any type of chemical, and an important part of doing this is protecting the honeybee colonies in cold seasons. This is probably the most important way of preventing disease within the bee hive. Bee hives that are not protected in winter have a higher chance of getting tracheal mite or nosema, so when you help protect them, you can more easily produce organic honey. Honeybee colonies create their own warmth, and when they are helped then they won’t starve or become too chilled during winter.
There are lots of ways to insulate for winter, but probably the most cost effective method is by using Styrofoam panels and tarp. Another less expensive method is, using bubble pack that is backed by foil. Just be sure that the hive entrance isn’t obstructed.
-Healthy Feeding Solutions for Longer Bee Life Span-
Bees that are not maintained organically have a shorter lifespan, and that is because commercial beekeeping has exposed the bees to toxic substances. These toxins, plus the toxins in our environment, like that of the air, soil, plants, and water stresses the honeybee’s immune system.
You need to pay attention to local surrounding water supplies, and crops that may have severe chemicals used in them. Most organic beekeepers are required to be away from population, traffic, large commercial crops. This is just one of the reasons organic beekeeping is so difficult.
An organic beekeepers job is to improve the immune system of his hive. This process required a great deal of care and dedication. As an organic beekeeper you may not see the fruits of your effort in this regard until the second generation of bees. But once you have healthier and stronger bees, they will produce more for you. You just have to be patient and stay the course, the results will come if you give it time.
There are many beekeepers that care for their bees naturally but few can be classified as organic because of the stringent rules of the FDA.

When you decide to start a beekeeping business, you will need to find some specific equipment, from specialized suppliers, and these can be found locally or online. Now that is not meant to scare you off, because the amount of equipment you need is minimal, and the cost is also very reasonable, especially for a business that is just starting.
Beekeepers equipment will vary from beekeeper to beekeeper, depending on what he feels comfortable working with, and the type of hive he is using. Some people may have a certain item, while others won’t. But the items we describe here make up the basic equipment most starting beekeepers should have.

-The Smoker-
This is probably the most important piece of equipment a beekeeper can have. The smoker allows you to open the hives up and manage them without being stung. It just takes a couple of puffs from the smoker to keep the bees docile while you open the hive. When you don’t use a smoker, you will probably be stung more than once.

-The Bee Suit-
A good bee suit may not seem like such a necessary item, but it does pay for itself, especially when it keeps you from being stung. This suit keeps the honeybees from crawling into your hair, your clothes, etc, and thus stinging you after you leave the hive and the smoke effect wears off.

-The Bee Hat with Veil-
This is a hat which protects your face and hair. Some bee suits come with this items, but others won’t so you may have to buy it separately. The hat and veil protect the most sensitive areas of your body from being stung, like your neck, face, and head.

-Hive Tools-
These are really a necessity for every bee keeper. These are tools that come in different styles, but help you both open the hive and depending on the tool you buy scrape the frame for honey. There are actually many uses that the hive tools have.

-Bee Gloves-
These are long gloves that prevent bees from stinging your hands or arms, but are also made for ease of movement. Gloves really just need to be used in dangerous situations, and not, in every day maintenance.

-The Bee Brush-
This is a special brush used to remove bees from areas where you don’t want them, like on your person, or your clothes.

-Bee wrist and Ankle Straps-
These just give you an added layer of protection. They seal your pants and your sleeves so that the bees can’t run up your clothes and sting you after you leave the hive.

So, there you have it. This is the basic equipment you need to start your bee keeping business. Obviously some items are not as necessary as other items. For instance, you can live for a while without the wrist and ankle straps, if you use clothing that has elastic bands. You can also do without the bee brush, if you are extra careful with your clothing. Still it is best to get all the basic equipment and use it when necessary.

Beekeeping is a great home business and a way to make extra income, which many people overlook. There are a five secrets to successful bee keeping that can help you decide on whether this is the right endeavour for you or not.

How to install Package Bees

Secret #1
Beekeeping is about learning local techniques and knowledge but adding a bit of scientific and technical knowledge too. If you acquire and apply knowledge in biology and entomology to your beekeeping, you can do the maintenance more naturally and use less chemicals and supplements in your beekeeping endeavors.

Secret #2
Research shows that this is an ideal business for women, especially women who enjoy doing something that requires care, attention and careful manipulation. Beekeeping is for the outdoor lover, and people that enjoy being outdoors love it even more than gardening.

Secret #3
Beekeeping is generally speaking a local process, so what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another if he, or she, lives in a distant area. But beekeeping is possible in many areas you wouldn’t think possible, when the conditions are planned and considered by the beekeeper. For instance, beekeeping is possible in arid areas, or where other crops have failed. This is because the roots of trees that have nectar can still reach the water table.

Secret #4

Beekeeping is not difficult, but it’s not easy either. There is a profit to be had, but you need the cooperation of the bees. You need to nurture them, and provide for their well being, and you can only do this by watching them and caring for them. It becomes a part of your being, so you need to study, learn, watch and think processes through carefully.

Secret #5
Get good basic equipment. Make sure you have the right hives, and ones that are made well, for the beekeeping process you want. Stay away from used equipment, as it can hold mites. Make sure your hive and your smoker are the best you can afford. With most hives you have to have a smoker, which calms the bees down long enough for you to examine, and maintain the hive.
If you follow the above advice whether you are a man or woman, you should have a very successful beekeeping side business. Your bees will be happy, you will produce enough honey for yourself, your family, your friends, and you can sell the excess amount. You will also benefit in beeswax and other bee products.

The important thing is that you have the qualities needed for a beekeeper. These qualities include liking to work in the outdoors, that you enjoy reading up on beekeeping practices, and that you continually watch your bees to see what their behavior is like.
If you have the passion, the time, and the desire to become a great beekeeper, now is the time to learn! Hopefully the beekeeping secrets and tips above have inspired you to take action and get you started on how to start beekeeping on your own!
I wish you much beekeeping success!