Beekeeping 101

If you’d like to become a beekeeper, there are several options. Taking some sort of beekeeping 101 class is the best way to go.

For some people, that’s not an option for them due to location. You can also shadow a beekeeper for a season.

You can teach yourself via beekeeping via books or watch YouTube videos on the subject.

Some people just buy some equipment and ‘wing it’ for the first year (not recommended).

Check out our Beekeeping 101 page for more information on how to get started in beekeeping.

Beekeeping is not a hobby that can be taken up at any time during the year. Beekeeping has a very specific calendar by which it operates. This calendar generally follows the agricultural seasons. When things are in bloom, that is really the best time of year to start beekeeping.

If you are in a major metro area, there is almost certainly a local beekeeper association that offers beekeeping classes during the winter. If there is enough interest in the area, sometimes they will offer classes multiple times during the year.

This is one of the best times to get into beekeeping. Many beekeepers are older and will eventually become to old to handle their hives.

There is a big generational gap when you attend many beekeeper meetings. You’ll notice that there are way more older beekeepers than mid-age to younger beekeepers. But, this is changing a lot in recent years.

The renewed interest in sustainable living is changing a lot of people’s mindsets and interests in what is going on in the agriculture world.

Many people who would have never even considered beekeeping are now becoming interested in it not only for the pollination and allergy benefits, but also because honey bees are struggling to survive right now due to crop pesticides and colony collapse disorder.