Beekeeping is the practice of maintaining a colony of honey bees. Also known as apiculture, beekeepers or apiarists have hives where the bee colony lives. Generally, the purpose of beekeeping is to ensure flower pollination and to collect honey. Another vital role of the beekeeper is to cross-bread bee populations to keep them free from disease.
In this article, you’ll learn about what it takes to become a successful beekeeper. You’ll find out what equipment is required to harvest honey and master the art of beekeeping.
The History of Beekeeping (Apiculture)
Keeping bees in an organized manner to collect honey goes back thousands of years. It is thought that the first apiarists were in ancient Egypt. Descriptions on temple walls show workers using smoke to remove honeycombs from hives. In time, beekeeping became an important part of most cultures.
Modern beekeeping developed in the 18th century when people started to study the life cycle of honeybees. These studies resulted in creating beehives with removable beehive frames, revolutionizing apiculture. The most popular type of beehive is the Langstroth beehive, named after Lorenzo Langstroth. He discovered bee space and developed moveable comb hives with wooden frames. Most modern beehives are based on Langstroth’s design.
Is Beekeeping Right for You?
For many people, beekeeping is a worthwhile experience. Looking after a bee colony gives a fascinating insight into bees and how they operate. Of course, there is the reward of delicious honey—one of the purest foods in the world with many health benefits.
However, being an apiarist has its challenges. Here are a few things to consider if you are thinking of taking up beekeeping as a hobby.
The Cost to Start Beekeeping
First, consider the initial start-up costs if you want to become a beginner beekeeper. Initially, it requires an investment of around $600 to buy good quality beekeeping equipment. It’s necessary to start with two hives and buy essential beekeeping equipment and accessories. Equipment includes a beekeeper suit, gloves, hive smoker, and hive tool.
Then there is the question of bees—you’ll have to buy a starter pack of honeybees containing a queen bee, nurse, and worker bees.
Beekeeping takes time
It’s vital to consider the time and commitment beekeeping takes. During the peak season, you’ll need to spend about 30 minutes each week tending to each hive during the warm season. While this may not seem much, a colony of bees will suffer if you don’t maintain a healthy hive.
Another consideration is taking time to manage pests and diseases. During a hive inspection, you may notice pests such as mites, beetles, and moths. So, you will need to spend extra time and money to remedy the issue.
It’s good to note that beekeeping is typically a low-maintenance hobby once you get started.
The correct location is crucial for keeping bees
Having the right spot is essential for maintaining a healthy bee colony. Beehives need to stand on a level location and get a few hours of sunshine every day. Additionally, they need protection from strong winds. So, choosing where to locate your bee hives is an important consideration.
Honeybees travel up to five miles to forage for nectar, so even if your garden isn’t packed with flowers, bees should still find abundant food sources nearby.
Other considerations before becoming a beekeeper
Apart from considering the investment and time beekeeping takes, there are a few other things to think about.
For example, do you have allergic reactions to stings? If so, it’s worth getting tested for bee sting allergies. Even with the best beekeeping suit, the occasional bee sting is inevitable.
Another consideration is local regulations and neighbors. Some states have restrictions on keeping bees in urban areas. Also, your neighbors may be concerned about swarms of bees appearing near their property. However, these fears are usually unfounded.
Beekeeping as a Hobby
Being a backyard beekeeper is a rewarding hobby. Many beekeepers enjoy the calming and peaceful experience that tending to bees creates. According to the US Department of Agriculture, nearly 94 percent of apiarists are hobbyists, not commercial beekeepers. Backyard or urban beekeepers produce around 40 percent of honey in the US.
Reasons for Beekeeping
Reasons for taking up beekeeping are varied. Managing beehives is not just about harvesting honey. Beekeepers get to spend more time enjoying nature, and they help maintain threatened bee populations.
If you’re considering beekeeping, here are a few compelling reasons to take up the hobby.
Beekeeping offers sweet rewards
The obvious benefit of backyard beekeeping is enjoying raw, locally sourced honey. Harvested honey from your own hives is in its purest form. There are also no worries about buying honey that has been watered down. Unfortunately, this is a common practice in store-bought honey.
Raw honey—straight from the beehive—has many health benefits. WebMD reports that honey is a rich source of antioxidants and a healthier option than sugar and other sweeteners.
Apart from honey, there are other beneficial products you can harvest from the hive.
- Beeswax—This bee product is used to make candles and as a lubricant, wood polish, and natural lip balm.
- Propolis—This is a type of glue bees use to build hives. Propolis is hard to buy, but if you have a beehive, you’ve got a never-ending supply. Like honey, propolis is packed with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Beekeeping keeps you in touch with nature
Taking up beekeeping puts you closer in touch with nature. To become a successful beekeeper, you need to learn about factors that affect bee activity. You also become more attuned to seasonal changes. Of course, there is also the fascination of observing bee behavior as they interact and work as a team.
Beekeepers help honeybee populations
Managing beehives also helps maintain a healthy population of bees. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a significant issue affecting bees. CCD happens when an entire honeybee colony disappears from a hive. Most of the plants we use for food require bees for pollination to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Beekeeping — In Conclusion
There are many reasons to take up backyard beekeeping as a rewarding hobby. Looking after a colony of bees in a hive gives you a unique insight into the fascinating life of bees. Becoming an experienced beekeeper also gives you many rewards, such as delicious honey and the satisfaction you are helping protect local ecosystems.