How to Become a Beekeeper

There's nothing better than the taste of fresh honey. Becoming a beekeeper is one way to have that sweet treat around all the time. It's also a good business to be in because honey and bee pollination are always in demand. Getting started as a beekeeper is interesting and rewarding.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Beehive kit
• Thorough understanding of beekeeping
• Proper equipment for handling bees

1. Purchase essential bee keeping equipment. These items include a bee hive kit for building your bee hive, bee smoke, bee veil, hive tool and other items.

2. Select an area for your hive. This should be in an area where a food source is available. Bees usually travel one to one and a half miles for food.

3. Place a feeder nearby for times when natural sources may not be available. Bees love a solution of half water and half sugar.

4. Provide a water source for your bees. This is especially important in the heat of the summer.

5. Order packages of bees in the winter to guarantee delivery by spring time.
   
   

6. Hive your bees in the late afternoon when the weather is cool and they will not want to fly. Mist the bees with a 50/50 sugar water solution before moving them to the hive. Check to see if the queen is still alive, transfer her box to the hive and shake the remaining bees in over her.

7. Care for the bees in springtime to prepare the hive for honey. Bees may need more room depending on how much the hive has grown.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a gummy bear or marshmallow in place of the cork before putting the queen in the hive. The worker bees can eat it and release the queen. This gradual introduction is important to the hive.
• Beekeeping is still legal in most states, however it may not be allowable in your particular area. Check with your local government, or consider keeping your bees on a farm outside of town.

Who Can Help:

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[nomader]

on 6/2/2008 Ms. Kristen Fischer is no relation to the beekeeper
and author James Fischer, who suggests joining a
local beekeeping association before buying anything.

Beekeepers are generous folks, happy to lend or give
much to new beekeepers.