Bees have been all over the news for the past several years. Now, the impact that bees have on our environment, our farming, and even our health is highlighted.
But believe it or not, you can make a difference by becoming a beekeeper yourself. The basics are far more straightforward than expected, and the rewards are far more significant. Whether you enter beekeeping as a hobby or a business venture, it’s important to know where to start.
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Like any trade, the best way to ensure success is to be well-informed. Bees are simple to care for, but you must understand them. Their breeds, their habits, how well they thrive in a box beehive, and what they need for sustenance are some things you need to know.
For example, most beginner beekeepers forget to keep a water source nearby. Water is crucial as bees use this to dilute their honey and keep temperatures down during warmer seasons. The closer the colony is to a source of water, the more time they can dedicate to gathering nectar. That means more honey for you.
You can refer to plenty of resources online and offline. Your area may even have a local beekeeping association that can give you professional advice on how to start. They can help you make smart decisions after factoring in the space you’ll be using.
The assistance they can give for such tasks like gathering the honey or locating your queen will be a huge difference in the success of your season. More experienced beekeepers can also advise you on how to go about your beekeeping tasks, which are dependent on the season.
Do You Want to Build a Beehive?
In nature, bees create their own beehive. It will have perfect honeycombs where they will deposit the nectar they gather from flowers. After some time, this nectar is what turns into honey.
As a beekeeper, it may be wiser and safer to go for a human-made beehive for your bees instead. This way, you can maintain and look after your colony and the honey production better. The key factor in choosing the artificial beehive depends on the size of your space and the colony. As mentioned earlier, there is the box beehive, as well as the top-bar hives. These offer beekeepers easy access to checking on the bees and harvesting the honey without disrupting the bees themselves.
The best route, though, is to start smaller and go from there. That is less expensive and allows you to get the hang of things first slowly. As you gain more knowledge, you can expand and make alterations.
Meet Your Bees
Assuming you’ve gathered all the information and necessary supplies, what’s next? Getting your bees, of course! Bees can be ordered from breeders or suppliers. Make sure before you make any purchases that this supplier is a reputable one. The last thing you’ll want is a sick colony with weak bees.
The most common packages you can order are called package bees that come with a separate queen. There is also the nuc colony, which is a more formed colony of bees that comes with a queen that has begun laying.
Beekeeping is a relaxing venture that you can profit from or do for your pleasure. Respecting your bees and the hard work they do will help you understand how to better care for your colony. If you invest the right time and attention, you’ll be breeding healthy colonies and enjoying fresh honey straight from the hive.
