Lesson 1: What Keeping Bees Involves
What you're signing up for, before you buy anything
People have taken honey from wild bee colonies for thousands of years. Over time that gave way to managing bees, and today honey bees are kept in hives all across the United States. A few people make their living from bees, but most beekeepers are hobbyists with only a few hives who simply enjoy working with these fascinating insects. Beekeeping can be a very enjoyable hobby, and it can give you honey to share with friends and neighbors.
This first lesson is an honest look at what the hobby asks of you, so you can start well prepared.
It takes time to learn
Beekeeping used to be simpler. Until the 1980s there were few pests that harmed honey bees in the United States. Now varroa mites, tracheal mites, small hive beetles and other pests are common. You don't need to be an expert to start, but you do need to be willing to learn about bee pests and diseases, and to check on your bees regularly. That's what Chapter 8 of this course is for.
Good beekeepers keep learning. The first step is simply learning all you can about how bees live and how beekeeping works, and that's where this course starts.
Get ready before the bees arrive
Preparing for your first bees takes longer than most people expect. Mississippi State University recommends starting your preparations no later than the autumn or winter before your bees arrive. In that time you'll need to:
- buy protective gear so you can work your bees safely (lesson 20);
- get, put together and weatherproof your hive equipment (lessons 17–19); and
- learn the basics of bee biology and beekeeping (Chapters 2 and 5).
Bees themselves are ordered well ahead too, because suppliers can run short in spring (lesson 25).
It costs money up front
A new beekeeper can easily spend hundreds of dollars on hive parts alone, before the bees, gear and tools. Wooden hive parts can be bought already assembled or as unassembled kits. Assembled equipment is more convenient but costs more; kits are cheaper if you put them together yourself.
Before you buy anything, make a simple budget. Compare prices from a few beekeeping suppliers for:
| What | Covered in |
|---|---|
| Hive boxes, frames and foundation, lid, bottom board | lessons 17–19 |
| Veil, suit or jacket, gloves | lesson 20 |
| Smoker and hive tool | lesson 21 |
| Feeder | lesson 22 |
| The bees themselves | lessons 25–29 |
You need a good place for the hives
Think about where the hives will go before you get bees. For many people a backyard works well, but don't take your neighbors, your family or local rules for granted. Some towns and counties have rules about where hives can go. Lesson 3 covers neighbors, lesson 4 covers the law, and lesson 24 covers choosing the spot.
Stings come with the hobby
Experienced beekeepers accept that bees will sometimes sting, and they know how to keep stings to a minimum. Until you have that experience, protect yourself with a veil and protective clothing. Stings to the face are especially painful and can be discouraging. Lesson 2 explains what a normal sting reaction looks like and when a sting is an emergency.
You don't have to learn alone
Help is easy to find:
- Local beekeeping clubs. Many beekeepers are happy to share their experience with someone new. Going to a few meetings is one of the best ways to learn, and you'll soon find out who keeps healthy bees.
- Work alongside a beekeeper for a few days before you start, if you can.
- Your local Extension office can put you in touch with local beekeepers and bee organizations, and can help with things like identifying pests.
- Your state department of agriculture can tell you about the bee laws and inspections where you live.
What to remember
- Most beekeepers are hobbyists with a few hives, and it's an enjoyable hobby, but it takes time and effort to learn, especially about pests and diseases.
- Start preparing the autumn or winter before your bees arrive: gear, equipment and learning.
- Expect to spend hundreds of dollars on equipment; make a budget first.
- Plan where the hives will go, and think about neighbors, family and local rules.
- Join a club and find people to learn from.
Quick check
- Why does beekeeping take more learning today than it did before the 1980s?
- Name the three things Mississippi State says a first-year beekeeper should get done before the bees arrive.
- What's the trade-off between buying assembled equipment and buying kits?
Show answers
1. Since the 1980s, pests such as varroa mites, tracheal mites and small hive beetles have become common, and beekeepers need to know how to manage them. 2. Buy protective gear; get, assemble and weatherproof the hive equipment; learn the basics of bee biology and beekeeping. 3. Assembled equipment is more convenient but costs more; kits are cheaper but you put them together yourself.
Adapted from: Delaplane, K. S., Honey Bees and Beekeeping (UGA Extension Bulletin 1045, rev. 2017); Georgia Department of Agriculture, Apiary Program: Honeybees; Mississippi State University Extension, Beginning Beekeeping in Mississippi (P3594); UF/IFAS Extension, Welcome to the Apiary! (4H446); USDA National Agricultural Library, Apiculture and Beekeeping; UGA Bee Program, Getting Started: Preparing to Keep Bees.
Adapted from university Extension sources. Experienced Georgia beekeepers are reviewing these lessons. See something that doesn't match your experience? Tell us.