After writing last week's post on identifying honeybees, I pitched an idea for an ongoing series on backyard beekeeping and was given the green light. Not only will I give progress reports as my own beekeeping season unfolds, but I will also cover some basic information that will be useful to anyone looking to get started in beekeeping themselves. These posts will appear on the Outdoor channel on a weekly basis, or whenever there is some news to report. A good place to start is what to think about when considering backyard beekeeping.
There are many factors to consider when thinking about becoming a beekeeper, but they can all be basically lumped into three categories: surroundings, site, and self.
Surroundings: Are you in an area where both bees and beekeepers will be embraced? Think of your neighbors first — find out how they feel about bees and if anyone is allergic to bee venom. Make sure there are no laws prohibiting beekeeping at the municipal level, or that it is allowed by the condo association or within your housing complex. If you are renting, check with the landlord. Use common sense and don't try to make it work when it is a bad idea to begin with.
Site: A good site is sunny, with a bit of shade and a source of water nearby. Having the hive opening face south and having some type of windbreak to the north, like a fence or some bushes, is ideal. (I have heard from many old-timers that the north wind has a mysteriously negative effect on bees, enough so that I heed their warnings.) The source of water can be easily supplied by any number of homemade watering systems. A big field full of wildflowers would be nice, but my bees are in the woods and do just fine collecting tree pollen, and there are plenty of urban beekeepers who make do as well. One thing to think about if you are in the woods is bears. Around here, in southwest New Hampshire, an electric fence is mandatory. If you are in an area where bears are prevalent, a source of power for the fence is a nice thing, but if none is readily available there are plenty of other options, such as solar fence chargers and battery-powered fences.
Self: Ask yourself why you want to become a beekeeper. It is difficult to make your initial investment back in the short-term, especially if you have die-offs due to weather or disease. Money generated from honey sales should not be a main factor, at least not in the first few years when you have just a hive or two. There should be a genuine interest in honeybees as a species because you will be taking a crash course in biology, genetics, behavior, diseases, etc. I am a hobbyist beekeeper, but it is one of the most demanding hobbies I have ever taken up, and one of the most rewarding.
The best thing you can do is visit a beekeeper and see firsthand what it is like to get inside a hive and be surrounded by bees. It's not for everyone. Local beekeeping clubs are a great place to find all types of information on beekeeping in your area. They tend to be full of people who like nothing more than to talk about their bees and would no doubt be glad to give you an up close and personal look.
MORE BEEKEEPING ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Beekeeping Basics: Brushing Up on Bee ID
(Images: 1. Flickr user gedankensteufe. 2. Flickr user tristanf. Both images licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Thank you for mentioning neighbours and allergies. I think beekeeping is a wonderful hobby and something that needs to be done to keep up bee populations, but only if you have the space for it. My mother is deathly allergic to bees, and manages to get stung on a regular occurrence. I don't know how she does it, but we've been through eleven epi-pens. So while both of us support the tending to the bee population, she would have to definitely tell any neighbour next door that they couldn't have the bees there.
Which sucks and she would feel bad, but it's unfortunately not anything she can help.
A neighbor's allergy is exactly why I'm not keeping bees. I'm very concerned about colony collapse disorder (not even interested in harvesting the honey), but I'm more concerned about the lives of my human neighbors!
I also wonder about the africanized bees in our southwest desert--is that a problem you're familiar with?
@Jen G, as a beekeeper in the northeast, I cannot speak to that problem, although I do know it exists in the south and southwest and it is definitely a worrying one. Once again, the best place to go for information is a local beekeepers club, they will undoubtedly have up to date info on beekeeping in your specific area.
Please consider how dangerous this could be to your neighbors. A few months ago, a good friend of mine dropped dead after a bee sting. It happened within a minute. An epi pen would not have saved him. The Africanized bee's have taken over many of our honeybee's hives. I live in southern California. I had a hive in my attic last year. 2x's this last weekend I had to run inside because of a swarm of bees, they swarmed around my windows. If you live in the country then have at it. Its a stupid idea in suburbs or an urban area.
Does anyone have experience raising bees when your neighbors spray for mosquitos? Neighbors on both sides hire a service to spray that awful stuff monthly (and it's broad-spectrum meaning it kills all bugs). Should I just give up this dream?
Anytime there is talk about bees, multiple people claim that they are deathly allergic, or know someone who is deathly allergic, or heard of someone....
You're more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to die of a bee sting. Certainly some people are deathly allergic but the onus should be on them to protect themselves. A well managed apiary shouldn't be a danger to anyone.
Well managed means that a suitable location is chosen, steps are taken to keep the colony from swarming or becoming aggressive, and a water source is provided to keep bees from visiting a neighbor's pool.
Honeybees can peacefully coexist with people and have for thousands of years. Even africanized bees are usually only aggressive if their hive is disturbed.
OBElizabeth: I'm very sorry about your friend! That's awful.
It sounds as though you need a bee intervention. I met some local LA beekeepers a while back, and they tell me that there are something like 9 feral (wild) beehives per square mile here. (I think it was 9. You get the idea.)
Well, there's a group that adopts these bees. Here is their site:
http://www.backwardsbeekeepers.com/
They could potentially take the bees out of your neighborhood and put them in a nice, properly controlled home. Anyway, they wouldn't be your problem anymore, ideally.
And they seemed like very nice people. I'm sure they would be understanding about people's natural fears of something that could kill them. You should not have to live that way. Good luck!! (And if that doesn't work, there should be some kind of govt vector control, I would think, but I've never tried that.)
If you can't host bees, support something like Bike a Bee! http://bikeabee.com/ it's a way to give back without worrying about allergies.
@Sugarbakers: Having that type of spraying on each side of your beeyard would be a tough situation for bees. If you could find a friend who would host your bees for you that may be your best option. Good luck.
jen_g - Africanization is not as big a problem as the media would have you think. I'm in Texas. There are ways to control the agression of a hive by requeening. I've never had trouble with it nor anyone I know.
Oh, I'd also recommend finding a local beekeeping club! Ours in Dallas is www.tvbees.org
Beekeeping is a wonderful outdoor occupation that requires dedication and love for nature.
I want a beekeeper for honey, but I am allergic to bees, so my doctor told me when I was younger. Is it still possible to have bees while being allergic?