So You Want To Be A Beekeeper

Beginning Beekeeper Workshop

January 23, 2010

So You Want to be a Beekeeper?So You Want to be a Beekeeper?

Dave Carter,Dave Carter,

11stst Year Beekeeper Year Beekeeper


January 23, 2010

Sharing Sharing LessonsLessons from my 1 from my 1stst Year . . . Year . . .


January 23, 2010

Bees are Really Cool and Lots of FunBees are Really Cool and Lots of Fun

Expect to feel Excitement, Fascination, & ANXIETY.


January 23, 2010

You will likely be searching many sources for the You will likely be searching many sources for the one right answer to your beekeeping questions . . .one right answer to your beekeeping questions . . .


January 23, 2010

When in doubt, ask a wise & When in doubt, ask a wise & experienced beekeeper from DBA . . . experienced beekeeper from DBA . . .

•But remember – If you ask 5 beekeepers the same question, you may get 5 different answers (all of which are probably right).

•Beekeeping is an “Art” as much as a “Science”.

•Do what feels right, and adapt when needed to best help your bees.


January 23, 2010

Beekeeping Takes Some TimeBeekeeping Takes Some Time

• How much time? More than it takes to care for our cats, but less than it takes to care for our dog.

• A few afternoons reading, studying bees, reviewing catalogs, and ordering supplies in Jan/Feb.

• About a full day (or several evenings) to assembly, prepare, and paint equipment by early March.

• A few hours a month to check hives and perform some maintenance (feed sugar syrup, add supers, cut weeds, record notes, etc.).

• Many hours of fun just watching your bees work & checking blooms to see what they are foraging on in your area.

About 40-50 hours during 1st Year


January 23, 2010

You will need some new toys (equipment); You will need some new toys (equipment); with many options and little time to choose.with many options and little time to choose.

• Bee Hive(s) & Supers• 8 or 10 frame boxes?• Wedged, grooved, or divided?• Full, medium, or short?• Wax or plastic foundation?

• Hive tool.• Smoker• Vail/Jacket• Gloves• Bee Brush/Feather• Feeders• Notebook

SmokerSmoker

BrushBrush

Hive ToolsHive Tools

GlovesGloves

FeedersFeeders

Spray BottleSpray Bottle

VeilVeil

HiveHive


January 23, 2010

Beekeeping has a cost.Beekeeping has a cost.

• Bee Hive & Supers ~ $125- $175 (bottom board, hive & honey supers, frames, queen excluder, Inner cover, entrance reducer)

• Bees ~ $75 - $85 (3lbs. & queen)

• Clothing & Tools ~ $75 - $125 ( Veil, gloves, smoker,2 hive tools, bee brush)

• Feed & Medications ~ $35-$60 (Mite & Nosema medication, Sugar, etc.)

• Beginner Bee Class ~ $80_____

Total Yr. 1 w/one hive = ~ $390 - $525 Total Yr. 1 w/two hives = ~ $590- $785


January 23, 2010

Get your equipment and prepare it NOW ! ! ! Get your equipment and prepare it NOW ! ! ! (or well before the spring bee season) (or well before the spring bee season)

If you have some handyman skills, you can save some money (but may want to focus this on future years).


January 23, 2010

Picking a Hive Location ... (Don’t Worry)Picking a Hive Location ... (Don’t Worry)

•Put them where they are Put them where they are convenient to get too.convenient to get too.

•Sunny locations make Sunny locations make bees earlier risers & a bit bees earlier risers & a bit happier.happier.

•Wind breaks are helpful.Wind breaks are helpful.

•Southeast facing is Southeast facing is supposed to be best, but supposed to be best, but my bees don’t seem to my bees don’t seem to care.care.

My bees My bees are here are here by my by my shed.shed.


January 23, 2010

There are a lot of bees in those There are a lot of bees in those hives, so give them a little respect.hives, so give them a little respect.

•Bees are usually “so nice you can pet them”.

•But they too, sometimes have a bad day.

•Purchase AND USE your protective equipment, or your bees may teach you a lesson.

•YOU WILL GET STUNG!!!


January 23, 2010

Placing Bee Package in Hive(s) . . Placing Bee Package in Hive(s) . .

•The hardest part is the waiting to check the queen!

•Enjoy the day and don’t worry.

•Do it with a mentor if you are nervous, so you can have fun.


January 23, 2010

Some Additional Wisdom ... The Queen Some Additional Wisdom ... The Queen

•You may curiously & anxiously - - search & search & search - - for your new Queen.

•You may never see her . . . . . I didn’t!!!

•Be happy when you see eggs and brood. (It means she is fine.)


January 23, 2010

Some Additional Wisdom . . .Feeding Some Additional Wisdom . . .Feeding

•Get a big pot to make sugar syrup several gallons at a time.

•Entrance feeders may be convenient ….

•BUT, they may lead to robbing and angry bees.


January 23, 2010

Some Additional Wisdom...”Empty Some Additional Wisdom...”Empty Space”Space”

If you forget a frame, or leave an empty super on top, bees will be busy bees.


January 23, 2010

Some Additional Wisdom . . . Supers Some Additional Wisdom . . . Supers

•Have Plenty of Extra Supers on hand, with frames and foundation.

•You never know when you will need to expand your hive(s), or

•Collect a swarm for a new hive.

From This To This

In 2009!!!


January 23, 2010

Some Additional Wisdom . . . Don’t Some Additional Wisdom . . . Don’t Needlessly Worry about ThingsNeedlessly Worry about Things

•If you start from a bee package, mites & diseases are unlikely to be a major concern in year one.

•You don’t need a honey extractor this year – so just meet someone who has one.

•Bees are more forgiving than you think if you don’t do things perfectly, and...

•You can learn, adapt, and do things differently in the future.


January 23, 2010

Some Additional Wisdom . . . Some Additional Wisdom . . . ExpectationsExpectations

•Expect to have fun, meet new friends, and be amazed by the bees.

•DO NOT expect any honey the 1st year.

•The 1st Winter is not a beekeeping lull , it is the beginning of your 1st season of the bee bounty.

•Starting Year two is even more exciting then your 1st year!!!


January 23, 2010

Most Most ImportantImportant 1 1stst Year Wisdom Year Wisdom

The bees are in charge, but will The bees are in charge, but will often adjust to help the often adjust to help the

beginning beekeeper.beginning beekeeper.


January 23, 2010

QuestionsQuestions??

Education

So You Want To Be A Beekeeper