How to Start Beekeeping

Great tips on homesteading, frugal living, and self reliance.
	How to Start Beekeeping How to start beekeeping is a question you may have on your mind as you consider different methods of homesteading that help you pursue the self-reliant lifestyle. Beekeeping is one of the best ways to become self sufficient. Not only do these wonderful little insects provide you with honey, they also do an amazing job of pollinating your garden. My tomatoes this past summer were nearly twice the size they usually are, and I'm convinced my darling bees were the reason. So if you're wondering how to start beekeeping, here are a few tips: Join a Beekeepers Group One of the best ways to learn how to start beekeeping is to join a beekeepers group. There are beekeeping associations in every state. Bee Culture, the magazine of American Beekeeping has a list of beekeepers in every state. To find a group near you, click this link. Find a group near you and join it, even if you don't yet have bees. Not only will you have a great time getting to know other beekeepers, you'll also gain invaluable information from folks who have been there and done that. Read Up Reading an excellent resource is an invaluable tool in learning how to start beekeeping. One of the best books available on the topic is Beekeeping For Dummies by Howland Blackiston. This detailed book covers everything from getting started to dealing with mites and colony collapse disorder. Getting a copy of this book and reading it before you get your bees will help quell any anxiety you may have about handling your little honey producers. Get a Beekeeper's Suit Don't scrimp in this area, especially if you are just starting out. There is nothing more discouraging than working with your bees and getting stung. Plus, over time you can also develop an allergy to bee stings. A full beekeeper's suit complete with a hat, veil and gloves is the best way to feel confident and keep the experience a pleasant one. Get the Proper Equipment Make sure you have a smoker and a hive tool. Both of these tools are essential. Get a Hive Before ordering your bees and learning how to start beekeeping, make sure you have a proper home for your bees before your order them. You will need a hive to house your bees, and the Langstroth hive is the traditional way to go. You will need a bottom board, a lower deep box (the brood chamber), an upper deep box (the food chamber), and one or two shallow honey supers with which to collect honey. You will also need an inner cover and a top outer cover. You can order these from beekeeping suppliers or, if you're handy with wood, build your own. Order Your Bees The last step (but also the most crucial) in learning how to start beekeeping is to order your bees. You never really learn anything until you try it first hand. Yes, you may make mistakes, but far better to be a real homesteader who has made the occasional goof than to be an armchair homesteader who never accomplishes anything. Italian bees are the most gentle and the best choice for a beginner. Order your bees from a reputable dealer. The best way to learn of a good source for bees is through your local beekeeping association. More Helpful Information on Keeping Bees Want to learn how to stop the progression of Africanized or "killer" bees? Become a beekeeper! Learn how. If you're ready to have your own source of the most healthful, nutritious honey available, consider becoming a homestead beekeeper. Here's how. A beekeeper can make money selling honey as well as a self-reliant source of food. Here are other ways you can earn income off your land. Bees are not only a way to a far improved homesteading garden, they are also industrious, highly organized insects. Learn about the different members of the bee colony. Without the right equipment, beekeeping can be an extremely unpleasant task. Here is a list of the important Beekeeping equipment you need to get started. The right location for your bees is as important as the equipment you have on hand. Here are some tips on finding the right location for your colony of bees. Once you are an experienced homesteading beekeeper, you might want to increase your bee population by catching swarms. Learn how. Do you think you're ready to start beekeeping, but you don't know where to begin? Here are some tips on getting started. Is spring around the corner? These beekeeping basics will ensure your bees will survive the end of winter and produce plenty of honey for your this spring and summer. Read more. 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