How To Get Started in Beekeeping

Embarking on the journey of beekeeping is an enriching and rewarding experience, connecting you with the world of honey bees. Whether you're driven by a passion for environmental stewardship, a desire to harvest your own honey, or simply the intrigue of these fascinating creatures, our multi-part podcast series, "How To Get Started In Beekeeping," is designed to support your beekeeping adventure.

The series offers comprehensive insights for beginners and provides a 'big picture' overview of beekeeping. These special episodes address the basics of bee biology and colony dynamics to selecting the right equipment and managing your honey bees through the seasons. Each episode is crafted to build your knowledge and confidence, featuring expert interviews, practical tips, and real-life experiences to prepare you for successful beekeeping.

Alongside the podcast episodes, this webpage serves as a central hub for additional resources. Here, you'll find a curated list of episodes, alongside invaluable industry websites and YouTube channels recommended by seasoned beekeepers. These resources are handpicked to complement the podcast content, offering visual guides, up-to-date research, and community support to enrich your learning experience.

Whether you're setting up your first colony or looking to expand your beekeeping knowledge, our series and accompanying resources are here to support you along the way. Dive into the world of beekeeping with us and discover the joy and satisfaction of nurturing these essential pollinators.

 

Episodes For The First Year Beekeeper

How To Get Started Series

How To Get Started With Bees - START HERE

• Some Initial Considerations BEFORE You Start 
  

  You think you want to keep bees, but do you have a good understanding of beekeeping's challenges and rewards? Despite increased difficulties such as varroa mites and other pests, beekeepers can manage their honey bees with available tools and reap the many benefits from maintaining healthy honey bee colonies.

  Our conversation covers a range of topics crucial for beginners, from the philosophical—why we start beekeeping—to the practical—where and how to keep bees in various environments. Highlighting the significance of mentorship and community, the episode encourages new beekeepers to seek out experienced mentors and join local clubs for support and guidance.
  
  
  
• Do You STILL Want To Keep Bees?

  You’ve made the decision to get started. What do you need, and how does this work? Jeff, Kim and Jim put a total of over 100 years experience in getting started. They’ve made a lot of the mistakes already, so you don’t have to. Topics covered include:

  • Bee Yard Location Considerations
  • Choosing a First Hive-Type
  • Protective Clothing
  • Smokers
  • Hive Tools

 

How To Get Started With Bees - Step 2

• Where To Get Bees

  So you’ve got a good idea about what equipment you’ll need and where your bees will go, so now, where do you get bees? There are several ‘species’ of bees you will hear about, just like dogs breeds - cocker, shepherds, labradors, etc. They are similar in most ways, but each has some special traits you will want to investigate. Then, once you’ve decided what kind of bees will be best for you, how do you get them into that equipment you just picked out. Well, all manner of techniques exist…from the post office, from a local supplier or from a local beekeeper, and they come in all kinds of containers, so check out all the bees, and all the ways you can get them.
  
  

• Developing Beekeeping Skills
  
  Purchasing beekeeping equipment and bees may seem straightforward, but developing the expertise to sustain a healthy colony is a journey that spans years. This episode explores the realities behind the idealized images of beekeeping, offering insights through stories and practical advice to make the craft more approachable. We highlight the critical role of mentorship, the benefits of engaging with local beekeeping communities, and the importance of understanding seasonal tasks. Additionally, we discuss how proper equipment usage, weather awareness, and adaptability in scheduling are essential to cater to your bees' needs year-round, emphasizing that a good mentor can significantly enhance this learning curve.

 

How To Get Started With Bees - Step 3

• What About That Equipment?
  
  There are a couple of decisions you should make before the bees arrive. One of them being, will you build your own equipment, assemble a kit or start with old equipment donated by a club or someone getting out of the hobby. Each has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Also discussed in this episode is why, what, when and how to feed your bees. Does it make a difference? The short answer is... "Yes and, it depends..."
  
  
• The Bees Arrived, Now What?!

  One of the most exciting, and absolutely wonderful events when you are just starting out is receiving your first order of bees and getting them into all that equipment you just built. There’s lots of ways to install them, and most will get the job done. Which way is tried and true?  We discuss your options.  Then, once they are installed... what do you do, what can you expect, and what’s normal? In this episode of the series, we get you into and past your first month of having bees.

 

How To Get Started With Bees - On Your Way

• You Are A Beekeeper!

  Once you get your brand-new bees established in your brand-new equipment, what happens? Well, the rest of the world wants to know what’s going on in that brand-new hive. Already your bees are making babies, gathering pollen and honey, and there’s even a few nasties that might come to visit. And you need to learn about them for sure. So make room in your hive for honey, for bees and take care of the issues that may arise, all here in the final segment of our special series, "How To Get Started With Bees".

• The Three Ps of Beekeeping - Parasites, Pathogens and Pesticides
  
  From the pervasive threat of Varroa mites to the many nuances of local beekeeping, beekeepers need to maintain high-level overview of their bee health plan. In this episode, the team provides practical advice on monitoring the three Ps and treatment options, emphasizing the importance of integrated pest management and community support. The conversation underscores the necessity of ongoing education and proactive measures in maintaining healthy hives.  

 

Notable Honey Bee Obscura Podcast Episodes

• Colony Collapse and Varroa, Plain Talk with Dr. David Peck (164)
  
  Colony collapse due to varroa infestation is a serious issue faced by all beekeepers in nearly every corner of the world. It is not IF you have these mites. You DO have these mites and you need to understand how to manage them to keep your colonies healthy. In this episode, Jim and David explore this complex and pressing issue in beekeeping.

 

Helpful Online Resources to Bookmark

• Honey Bee Health Coalition - https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/
• Honey Bee Forage Map - https://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/Honeybees/Forage.htm
• Apiary Inspectors of America - https://www.apiaryinspectors.org/Resources_public
• Bee Health - https://bee-health.extension.org

 

Books

• The Backyard Beekeeper, 5th Edition - Kim Flottum
• The New Starting Right with Bees - Kim Flottum, Kathy Summers
• Wisdom for Beekeepers: 500 Tips for Successful Beekeeping - James E. Tew
• The Beekeeper's Problem Solver: 100 Common Problems Explored and Explained - James E. Tew

Magazines

• American Bee Journal
• Bee Culture
• The Beekeeper's Quarterly

Associations

• American Beekeeping Federation
• American Honey Producers

YouTube Channels

• David Burns
• Fred Dunn
• Kamon Reynolds

 

What are who are your favorite resources for accurate, useful, information on beekeeping? Let us know!

 

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