Becoming a Beekeeper
Get Started with Beekeeping, One of the Oldest Hobbies in the World
Aug 19, 2008
With beekeeping, not only do you get to spend your time working at a hobby that is hugely enjoyable, but you also get to enjoy the wonderful end products: tasty honey and multipurpose beeswax. In addition to this it will keep you fit and will provide you with a better yield from the plants in your garden, as well as being a hobby that you can enjoy for your whole life.
First Steps for Beekeepers
One of the first things to do is find out as much about beekeeping as you can. The internet is a good starting place, but you should also consider buying a few books to get you going. There is a wealth of material available, and a good list of books can be found at Better Bee for suggestions.
The next thing to do is to get some experience. This could involve watching an expert beekeeper at work, and many beekeepers would be happy help get you started. If you offer to help them out for free you will be even more welcome!
Types of Beehive
The most important piece of equipment that you will need is a beehive. There are two main types of hive available these days: the wooden hive and the polystyrene hive.
If you ask a lot of beekeepers which one they prefer then you are bound to get any number of different opinions, and in the end it comes down to which is best for you. As a quick guide, the wooden hive is more durable and has a natural wax foundation which some beekeepers like, although they are more susceptible to wax moths.
The polystyrene hive, however, is far better at insulating the bees and tends to have a longer life expectancy. The choice is yours, but it should not have any effect on your success as a beekeeper.
Other Beekeeping Equipment
The other beekeeping equipment that you will need to buy before setting out as a beekeeper includes:
- Protective clothing
- A bee smoker
- A beehive tool for pulling apart sticky sections of the hive
- A feeder
- A manipulating cloth
- A bee brush for brushing bees off clothes
Getting Some Bees
The last step when you have done all of this is the most important of all: get yourself some bees. Information on where to find bees is best found from a local beekeeping organization. You will probably need to get yourself a swarm, and any local beekeepers should be able to help you with this.
Beekeeping is one of the most rewarding hobbies around. Not only will it give you endless satisfaction and enjoyment, but you will also be doing something good for the environment. If you are really keen to get started, then you might want to take a look at the Conwy Valley beekeeping guide, which includes lots more detailed information about starting out. And if you are interested in the subject then you should also check out my other article on the history of beekeeping.
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