Even though you might not consider beekeeping to be a fun hobby, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. Many think beekeeping is incredibly difficult, so they believe only some can start doing it. However, that’s not the case—anyone who is serious about doing it correctly can learn everything that’s necessary. Check out a few important things to know before becoming a beekeeper, whether you’re seriously considering beekeeping or you just heard about it.
Why You Want To Keep Bees
Someone might want to keep bees for many reasons, but first and foremost, you should figure out if this is something you want to do. Some excellent reasons to start beekeeping could be that you want a fresh honey source, to help your local bee population, or you just want to attract more pollinators to your garden. Knowing your goal can help you properly approach beekeeping and determine which methods and equipment will work best.
Where You’ll Keep Them
After deciding why you want to keep bees, the next step is deciding where you’ll keep them. Many beekeepers choose a space on their property for their hive, but you must consider local laws and regulations surrounding beekeeping. You wouldn’t want to get your hopes up only to learn that you can’t keep bees at home. Additionally, where you establish your bees on your property is important. Many beginner beekeepers don’t think they can keep bees if they have other animals or pets, but that’s not the case—having a guide to raising bees with other animals can help you decide the best way for everyone to co-exist.
Family and Neighbor Opinions
Although many decisions in your life don’t require the opinions of others, this one does. If you have family members living on your property or relatively close neighbors, you should seek approval and ask them how they feel about bees. Some may have a bee allergy or a heightened fear of bees—you may have to set this hobby aside or find another property to keep them.
Pro Tip
If you have a friend or family member with a large, secluded property, consider asking them if you can keep your bees there. They might agree if you provide them with free, fresh honey.
What You’ll Do With the Honey
Harvesting honey is arguably one of the most exciting parts of beekeeping, but what to do with it usually comes as an afterthought for many starting out. You might not think you’ll get a significant amount of honey from one hive, but a single colony can produce more than your household can use. That said, deciding whether to sell your honey in jars at a local market, give them away to friends and family, or sell them online is the easiest way to avoid swimming in too much honey.
After learning a few important things to know before becoming a beekeeper, you can start thinking about the logistics of your new adventure. Beekeeping can be incredibly fun and satisfying, but it’s not always easy to get to the fun part if you don’t take the time to work out the important stuff first.
