GETTING STARTED IN BEEKEEPING

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Level of commitment

• Cost

• Location/Liability

• Equipment

• Resources

ARE YOU COMMITTED?

• Time

• Physical work

• Getting discouraged/frustrations

• Willingness to educate yourself

COST $$$$

LOCATION

• Liability

• Neighbors

• Children/pets

• Town ordinances

• Sunny location with water

Basic Equipment Needed

• Hive Tool• Smoker & Fuel• Gloves• Bee Suit / Veil

THE HIVE AND ITS PARTS

How To Get Bees

• Buy an Established Hive

• Buy a Nuc• Buy a Package• Catch a swarm• Take Bees Out of

Something

Buy An Established Hive

• Turn Key–Ready to Go

• Costs Usually Less• May Include Honey• Best Chance of

Making Honey Crop• No Assembly Req.

Buy A Nuc

• Small Population to Start With

• Cost the Same as Packages

• Builds Up Faster Than Package/Swarm

• Good Chance of Making Honey Crop

Buy A Package

• Certified as disease free

• Small Population to Start With

• No Swarming Usually First Year

Catch A Swarm

• Healthy eager bees• Small population to

start with• Usually easy to

handle• Free

Mail Order Swarms

Ask and Do

• Read a Bee Book• Ask many Beekeepers

Questions & Listen to Fish Tales

• Go to Bee Meetings & Workshops

• Get your Hands Sticky• Tell Your Own Fish Tales