So you want to be a Beekeeper...
Author BeeMan
For understanding how to be a successful beekeeper, we mus start at the very 
Bee-ginning.
“WikiPedia Defenition - Beekeeping (or apiculture, from Latin apis, bee) is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans. A beekeeper (or apiarist) keeps bees in order to collect honey and beeswax, to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers. A location where bees are kept is called an apiary or "bee yard".”
There's just something about honey. Something that makes it special.
Maybe it's the fact that it's an insect that creates a food product that's enjoyed by millions of humans every year. (400 million pounds are consumed every year in the America alone) Maybe it's the wonder that an insect can create something that's so sweet and tasty. Whatever it is, you and I both know that honey is an extra-special food. Maybe that's why there are as many as 200,000 beekeepers in the United States, most of which are hobbyists. And that's probably why you are here on this page... wishing you, too, could join the crowd and start beekeeping.
Beekeeping is NOT for everyone. Why? Because beekeeping is a slightly "different" hobby. It's not a simple hobby like video gaming, or even bottle collecting or coin collecting. It's a hobby where you learn, go outside to work, and then enjoy the rewards when you harvest your first crop of honey.
3 Huge Benefits of Beekeeping
Getting that exercise!
For many people, it's hard to find a reason to go out and exercise. In beekeeping, you'll find a great way to get outside, get moving, and get some fresh air! (But don't worry... your workout won't be too strenuous)
Using your time in a constructive way.
Think of how many hours everyone wastes on basically pointless activities, just to use up their time - watching TV shows, playing video games, surfing the internet, to mention a few. What if there was a way to use your time more constructively? Beekeeping is a perfect way to do that!
Let's not forget the honey!
Just imagine what it will feel like bringing in that first harvest of honey. Taking your first taste of that fresh honey... giving away jars of "home-made" honey away to friends and family... It's such a rewarding feeling!
Nearly 20,000 known bee species
Author BeeMan
Before you go out and build your first hive. you must understand the nature of the workes.. the all important bees.
There are more than 20,000 species of wild bees. Many species are solitary, and many others rear their young in burrows and small colonies, like mason bees and bumblebees. Beekeeping, or apiculture, is concerned with the practical management of the social species of honey bees, which live in large colonies of up to 100,000 individuals. In Europe and America the species universally managed by beekeepers is the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). This species has several sub-species or regional varieties, such as the Italian bee (Apis mellifera ligustica ), European dark bee (Apis mellifera mellifera), and the Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica). In the tropics, other species of social bee are managed for honey production, including Apis cerana.
Bumble Bees
Bumblebees are considered to be beneficial insects because they pollinate crops and plants. They are very social bees and live in large "families". Unlike honeybees, bumblebees can sting more than once because their stingers are smooth and do not get caught in the skin when they fly away.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are solitary bees. They build nests just for themselves and only feed their own young. They get their name from their ability to drill through wood. Carpenter bee stingers are not barbed, so they are able to sting over and over again.
Honeybee
Honeybees live in large "families" and are found all over the world. The honeybee is the only social insect whose colony can survive many years. That is because they huddle together and eat honey to keep themselves alive during the winter months. Honeybees pollinate more than 100 crops in the U.S.
Build Your First Hive
Author BeeMan
Building your very own hive could be both exciting and exhilarating at the same time.
but it actually not.. I'm sorry to break it to you, but building your own hive is not an easy task.
In my 8 years in this business, I've tried building my own hive only once.
Unfortunately, I'm not as a handyman as I thought I am.
I failed miserably and eventually gave up. I then realized that spending all that time in building a hive is not for me and the simple and easiest solution is just order a prebuilt hive.
So that's what I did... and it worked! I found that building a hive is totally unnecessary in this business and ordering one up is just so much better.
Spare your time, if you're not good with the tools then just skip this part.
I advise you to buy a prebuilt hive, it will save you money, time and a lot of headache.
On the other hand. if you are talented with your tool box, than building your very own hive is a great solution for you. you can actually save money and time while doing this.
also the satisfaction of watching your hand made hive in action is tremendous (I can only imagine)
