Bee keeping?

Question

i wanted to learn a bit more about bees. i understand that a huge percent of our food and that many have died from colony collapse disorder. how do i get involved in apiculture? i just want this to be a hobby or at the most a secondary source of income how do i get started PLEASE email me the whole process

Answer 1

Bee keeping is a great hobby, it can be expensive and heartbreaking at times, but it's also really rewarding.

Your best bet would be to talk to local bee keepers and see who you might get bees from. Or you can buy the equipment, bees, and everything else and learn as you go.

My brother caught himself a couple of swarms that were in our orchard, and learned beekeeping by trial and error.  He got several beebooks and read a lot, and he lost three of four hives to a severe winter.

You might want to check out the forums below, they have all kinds of information and are very knowledgeble.

Answer 2

One of the best ways is to find a local bee keeper, and ask if you can help. If you don't know any bee keepers, you can go to a bee supply store, and ask them for a list of bee keepers, a lot of stores have a list that they give out to people needing to have a swarm caught.  Also if you see a bee stand in someones garden, you can stop and ask them who the bees belong to, and  contact them that way.

On good thing about working with someone that already has bees, is you will learn before you get involved if its for you, and you might get a lb. of honey for your trouble.

Answer 3

All the above answers are good.  You can also contact your Agriculture Department officers for help.

Answer 4

For information you should see what is available at your local library. Also consider either taking a course at your local University (with agricultural degree programs) or, if too distant, finding out what books are required for the course, and having the books sent to you. You need material that is copyrighted in this last year as everything is changing in management practices with regard to apiculture. The latest research points to problems in management practices as being the cause of CCD, not the actual manifestation of the problem which is seen as a series of diseases causing mortality. You can find a lot of information on line but there is too much to put the whole process together in a few pages and nothing short of a good book will allow you to even start up as a hobby or second income.

Answer 5

I have dabbled in bees for about 6 or  years now.  I usually had one hive, but now am up to 3 since my one swarmed multiple times and I caught 2 of them.  It is a subject that, like training dogs, or raising kids, has an infinite amount of possibilities in how you do it.  There are different styles fo hives and different methods of handeling them.  

Read lots - both books and join a on line group - there is Organic Beekeepers -

[e-mail]

as well as others - it has been nice having them to ask questions of and hearing the advice they give others as well - I have learned quite a lot from them - stuff I never had even thought of.

If you can find a beekeeping class that would also help. Here in Jersey there are a number of courses available - perhaps by you there are also some.

There is also beekeeping associations, beekeeping registry, and other state groups that can help you.  It is good to find a mentor since watching an experienced person for even a few minutes is worth many hours of reading.

As to a secondary source of income.....

Just look at it as a cool hobby and if you really get into it - and depending where you live - maybe you can make it profitable.  As of right now - if I sold my honey I just harvested, to break even I would have to charge over $12 per pound, though this includes building new hives for the swarms I just caught - they should produce as well in the future so the $ is more of an investment for the future.

Things to google - Kenyon Top Bar Hives, Langstroth hives

You can try to catch a swarm or you can order bees. (If possible go for the first one)

Check out http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm - I like his site.

Good luck to you - maybe catch you on the Organic list!