To Bee A Backyard Beekeeper Or Not To Bee?

To treat or not to treat is up the preference of the beekeeper. It is harder than ever to maintain healthy hives year after year.  Regular mite checks are a must to add to the beekeepers calendar. 

Small hive beetles can bee challenging if you are not proactive. A responsible beekeeper needs to be alert to watch for signs of pest and diseases.

🐝 December - Plan and plan some more to bee ready for an early spring start. Share your beekeeper Christmas list with friends and family.

🐝 November generally has cold nights and some days lovely warm afternoons. We don’t go in the bees - but may peek in the top on a 60° afternoon. Hopefully we have prepared our healthy girls in the hive for winter survival.

🐝 September and October are beezy with beekeeper management duties. The food sources are fading as blooms have dwindled for the season. Feeding practices look different for beekeepers but feeding our bees helps substitute the lacking resources. Also the real estate (hive boxes) is sometimes reduced for the winter beefore temperatures take a dive. The workers will start to cluster around the queen to maintain temperature .
🐝 July and August are beezy months for the honey bees. There are many flowers and blooms for the bees to visit loading up with pollen and nectar. 

🐝 Welcome June. Sunshine and consistent warm and sometimes already hot temperatures are just what the honey bees love! And we love happy bees.

🐝 May. Bee season is in full swing. Staying organized , energized, and ready.

🐝 During April  a lot of our swarm boxes are in place. Attached or placed on houses, business, fences, trees, along the edge of properties or generally where swarm have been beefore. 

Once the bees move in a swarm box we can remove. (Honey bees that move in a swarm box placed by us  are ours to pick-up unless other arrangements have been made in advance.) 

*Yes, our box, our bees. 

 🐝 March - beezy setting out, placing, and hanging swarm traps. Baiting each with small amounts of lemongrass oil and Swarm Commander (Q-tip). Educate friends, family and contacts to recognize a honey bee swarm and know to call us or the local club. Spread the word swarms are time sensitive and yellow jackets are not honey bees. Neither are hornets.

🐝 January & February plan and execute projects - build swarm traps, wooden-ware, new frames, hive stands etc. Nail, staple, glue - seal or paint to protect from exterior elements. 

After a couple of active seasons, a beekeeper will have experience with an eye for right where the swarm traps should bee placed.

1. It is our recommendation as step number ONE  join your local beekeeping club(s) and go to meetings and workshops.
2. Make new friendships and find knowledgeable beekeepers in your area. 
3. Watch and observe other beekeepers. Nothing beats hands on learning.
4. Read books. 
5. Watch videos and engage in online courses.
6. Learn ALL you can! 
7. Find a mentor close by that is available and willing to come when called
8. Have Fun & Never Stop Learning.

1. It is our recommendation as step number ONE  join your local beekeeping club(s) and go to meetings and workshops.
2. Make new friendships and find knowledgeable beekeepers in your area. 
3. Watch and observe other beekeepers. Nothing beats hands on learning.
4. Read books. 
5. Watch videos and engage in online courses.
6. Learn ALL you can! 
7. Find a mentor close by that is available and willing to come when called
8. Have Fun & Never Stop Learning.

It is our beelief a "NEWBEE" should start with:

-Protective body covering  (veil, long pants /shirt.

 It is best to have a quality suit specifically made for a beekeeper.

-Pocket size hive tool and a standard size hive tool.

-Smoker with supplies to burn

- If you are going to run a Langstroth hive consider having two... At some point you will need resources. By having a thriving second hive  it allows for options with handy resources to pull from.

- A queens castle (some call it a motel) - you choose whether to use as three or four sections. This gives additional support options. You will need resources at some point! 

Not if, but when.

The use of a queens castle is not for everyone, but we find it useful.

Educate yourself. Books and videos are great. Take a class in your community and online.

Most important join and participate in your local club and connect with other beekeepers. Line up a hands on mentor. Your mentor needs to bee on "speed dial" and have flexibility to talk to you or come with you when the bees are in need, not just when it's convenient.

It's a fun hobby for spouses, for a  family, and a great way to make new friends. I like to say fellow beeks;-)

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Have you opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.