Whether you live in the city, suburbs or a rural area beekeeping is a hobby you can enjoy. Beekeeping is a relatively inexpensive hobby and can counteract the price with profit from honey and beeswax. You are looking at about $300 for each hive, but you can certainly start with one hive.
If you know nothing about beekeeping, the best place to start is your local extension service. They will have access to other local beekeepers who will be able to give you tips and hints to beekeeping in your specific area. For the basics there are many excellent books available to help the beginning beekeeper get started.
After you know the rules for beekeeping in your area, and have chosen a place for your new hive you will need to get the equipment necessary to maintain your bee hive. You can check with the local beekeepers to see what resources are their favorite. They will know the best beekeeping equipment places, and the ones that are trustworthy. If you have no other local beekeepers, you can check ebay. There are also some beekeeping stores online where you should be able to find what you need.
Before you bring bees to the hive you want to make sure you have the appropriate clothing to protect your body and head from the bees. This means a bee suit and a bee veil to protect your head, face and neck. These are a must for beginning beekeepers.
Once you have the hive set up the next task is to get some bees. Your best bet for bees is to order through an online apiary. You will want to do this in late winter, so your bees can be shipped in early spring. They will be delivered to the post office generally and you will get a call to pick up your bees. Your bees will stay healthier if you pick them up instead of having them driven around all day in a hot mail truck.
Your bees will be contained in a special container made specifically for bees. It's basically a wooden crate covered in screen. This gives the bees air, but keeps postal workers and yourself safe from bee stings.
When you get your bees home you will find most of them will be hanging on to the edge of the container. Don't be surprised though, if you see a few dead bees on the bottom. Travel is hard on bees and some just won't survive. This is to be expected.
There will be another smaller container in there as well. It will house one to a few bees. This is your queen bee, and what the hive will revolve around. Some apiaries send a couple nurse bees along with the queen, which is why there may be more than one bee. You will only receive one queen though. You want to make sure you give your bees a drink after their long trip. You can do this by simply misting the container with a spray bottle. The bees will drink from the water droplets.
If you know nothing about beekeeping, the best place to start is your local extension service. They will have access to other local beekeepers who will be able to give you tips and hints to beekeeping in your specific area. For the basics there are many excellent books available to help the beginning beekeeper get started.
After you know the rules for beekeeping in your area, and have chosen a place for your new hive you will need to get the equipment necessary to maintain your bee hive. You can check with the local beekeepers to see what resources are their favorite. They will know the best beekeeping equipment places, and the ones that are trustworthy. If you have no other local beekeepers, you can check ebay. There are also some beekeeping stores online where you should be able to find what you need.
Before you bring bees to the hive you want to make sure you have the appropriate clothing to protect your body and head from the bees. This means a bee suit and a bee veil to protect your head, face and neck. These are a must for beginning beekeepers.
Once you have the hive set up the next task is to get some bees. Your best bet for bees is to order through an online apiary. You will want to do this in late winter, so your bees can be shipped in early spring. They will be delivered to the post office generally and you will get a call to pick up your bees. Your bees will stay healthier if you pick them up instead of having them driven around all day in a hot mail truck.
Your bees will be contained in a special container made specifically for bees. It's basically a wooden crate covered in screen. This gives the bees air, but keeps postal workers and yourself safe from bee stings.
When you get your bees home you will find most of them will be hanging on to the edge of the container. Don't be surprised though, if you see a few dead bees on the bottom. Travel is hard on bees and some just won't survive. This is to be expected.
There will be another smaller container in there as well. It will house one to a few bees. This is your queen bee, and what the hive will revolve around. Some apiaries send a couple nurse bees along with the queen, which is why there may be more than one bee. You will only receive one queen though. You want to make sure you give your bees a drink after their long trip. You can do this by simply misting the container with a spray bottle. The bees will drink from the water droplets.
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