Beekeeping for Beginners: Everything You Need To Know

There’s a lot to learn when it comes to beekeeping.

While maintenance of the hives is straightforward once you get the hang of it, getting started can take a lot of research and mentorship from experienced beekeepers.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about beekeeping for beginners and what you need to get your hives up and running.

What Are Honeybees?

As their name implies, honeybees are important but small, social bees that make honey. They live in colonies that are typically made up of a queen bee and worker bees.

Honeybees are important pollinators for flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

They’re incredibly important to the human ecosystem—in fact, most of your favorite foods would not exist without them.

One-third of most people’s diets come from pollinating species, like honeybees, and we’d lose more than 90% of our crop yield if they ceased to exist.

While it might be many people’s natural inclination to kill a bee in fear of getting stung, don’t!

Honeybees are docile and gentle to humans.

However, they can become aggressive when they feel their hive or resources are threatened. In this case, they may sting (only female honeybees have stingers).

If they do, they will die shortly afterward—a honeybee can only sting once.

Without stinging, a queen bee typically lives for one to two years, while worker bees live 15 to 38 days in the summer and 150 to 200 days in the winter.

What Is Beekeeping?

Officially called apiculture, beekeeping is the practice of raising bee colonies, usually in artificial colonies. Someone who raises bees is called an apiarist or a beekeeper.

One of the great things about beekeeping is that you can do it at your home, even in urban areas like New York City, according to Nick Hoefly, a certified master beekeeper and co-founder of Astor Apiaries, an urban beekeeping and honey company in New York City.

It’s beneficial to have some greenery nearby, but it’s not a dealbreaker.

“Bees forage up to five miles for food, so they don’t rely exclusively on what’s in your yard. Rooftops, balconies, and small urban gardens can all host hives,” Hoefly says.

You don’t need a lot of space, either.

A small corner of a yard or garden, ideally around 16 square feet for a single hive, is sufficient.

Make sure to check your local regulations before starting a hive.

Some areas require you to register hives and may have specific rules about the kinds of bees to use, the placement of the hives, or even the number of hives allowed.

Benefits of Beekeeping

There are several reasons people choose to beekeep—including the many benefits to you and the environment.

• Honey: One of the biggest benefits of beekeeping is honey. It’s fresher than commercial options, and unique to your location and season it was produced in.

• Pollination: Your bees contribute to local ecosystems, pollinating flowers, plants, and gardens in your area. As mentioned above, this can help with crop production.

• Better mental health: Research shows that beekeeping can help elicit a sense of togetherness with others and the environment. It also offers a profound sense of pride and contributing to the “greater good,” and helps promote relaxation.

• Building community: Beekeeping is a surprisingly social activity, says Hoefly. You can connect with other local beekeepers and might even inspire others to consider starting a hive.

• Enjoying an outdoor hobby: Katherine Kast, a licensed veterinary technician, says many people start beekeeping as a way to spend more time outdoors, doing something they enjoy.

How Do You Start Beekeeping?

Before you even think about starting a bee colony, a good beekeeping experience starts with research.

“If I can offer one tip to someone considering getting into beekeeping, it would be to do thorough research beforepurchasing/acquiring your bees,” says Kast. “Beekeeping can be a major ‘try-fail-learn’ endeavor, and the more prepared a new beekeeper can be, the better able they will be to anticipate and respond to the needs of their new colony.”

So, where can you do this research? Here are a few ideas from our experts:

• Take a beginner’s beekeeping course. Many local beekeeping associations, clubs, and universities offer courses that cover the basics, like how to start a honeybee hive.

• Look for reputable online resources and videos. Many beekeepers and apiaries, like Astor Apiaries, offer beekeeping education. You can also check YouTube, social media sites, and the US Department of Agriculture—just make sure you’re taking advice from experts.

• Seek out local beekeeper associations. These organizations offer community support, mentorship, and advice specific to your area. Plus, they’ll often have insights into regional challenges, like common pests or seasonal timing, according to Hoefly.

• Find an experienced beekeeper. If you can, connect with an experienced beekeeper who can serve as your mentor and teach you how to raise bees. “Many seasoned beekeepers are willing to help new folks get started and can provide tips that books can’t cover,” says Hoefly.

• Connect with local beekeeping clubs. “This is a fantastic way to gain expert advice, knowledge, access to community equipment, and to troubleshoot when a need arises,” says Kast.

Managing Expectations

The first year of beekeeping is all about researching, setting up, feeding your bees, and learning how to respond to their needs, according to Kast.

She adds that your first goal should be to support your new colonies to help them grow large and healthy enough to survive their first winter.

What You’ll Need To Start Beekeeping

Once you’ve gotten the research and mentorship part down, the next step is supplies. While you don’t have to spend a fortune, Hoefly does say that you generally get what you pay for.

“The cheapest option for tools and protective gear is almost always very low-quality and does not stand up to regular use for more than a season. You also don't have to purchase the most expensive options. You will find very good products that are mid-priced,” he says.

Buying Beekeeping Gear

To begin beekeeping, you need the following gear:

• Protective gear: Protective gear is important to minimize bee stings. You’ll need a full suit, veil, and gloves. Eventually, you may be able to wear a bee jacket and long pants. “The key is wearing as much gear as makes you feel safe and comfortable so you can focus on the beekeeping tasks, and not if there are bees getting into your pant leg,” says Hoefly.

• Smoker: A smoker helps when you’re inspecting the hive. A smoker masks the pheromone bees use for attacking/stinging. It’s important to have your smoker prepared and ready before opening your hive, so that you can calm the bees if they become agitated during your hive inspection, according to Kast.

• Hive tool: This is a multipurpose tool that helps you pry apart boxes and frames and scrape off propolis, when needed.

  • Propolis is a resin-like material made by bees from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing trees. Bees use it to build hives, and it may contain beehive byproducts. Propolis seems to help fight against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Choosing a Hive

You’ll also need a hive kit.

Beginner kits typically include:

• A bottom board
• Brood boxes
• Frames
• Inner cover
• Outer cover

Hoefly recommends opting for a standard Langstroth hive. These are widely used and have plenty of compatible equipment.

Getting Bees

Once you’ve gotten everything set up, the last thing you’ll need is your bees.

Hoefly recommends purchasing them through a local supplier, usually as a “package” of bees and a queen or as a nucleus colony (often called a nuc).

A nuc includes a small, already-established colony, which can be easier to manage for beginners.

“Avoid having your bees shipped to you,” he says. “The post office and shipping companies are not beekeepers and shouldn't be expected to treat your bees any better than any other package.”

How To Maintain Your Bees

When your bees are up and running, you need to make sure you’re properly maintaining them. While every hive is different, here’s some general advice:

• Inspect hives every 10 to 14 days during the warm months, but don’t overdo it. “While new colonies require far more work than established colonies, we do have to remember to let the bees do their work. Opening the hives can be extremely disruptive, especially when the bees are adjusting to their new home,” says Kast.

• Check for signs of pests, healthy brood patterns, and adequate space for growth. “Varroa mites are a major threat, so learn to monitor and manage them. Tools like an alcohol wash help assess mite levels, so learn how to perform one.

• Record data from your hive. Records can be as simple as writing down updates in a notebook, but it’s important to be consistent. This can help you recognize patterns that require your care.

You also want to make sure you’re allowing them to grow as needed. In beekeeping, there’s a concept called the “7/10 rule” that states “when seven out of 10 of the frames in a box are being actively worked by the bees, it’s an indication that the colony is ready for more space.”

“Failing to provide said space can alter colony behavior, and cause harm to the bees as well as to their natural productivity. Adding the [extra space] too soon, however, can cause the bees to become overworked and spread too thin as they attempt to fill too much space too quickly,” says Kast.

When it does come time to add space, you can use what’s called a “super,” which is short for superstructure. A super is an extra box placed on top of the growing hive that collects the honey. Hives grow upward, so a super allows the colony to continue working and behaving naturally as it grows.

When it comes to safety, Kast has three rules: Stay calm, wear your protective gear, and use your smoker.

“Getting stung is part of the gig, but typically this is relatively minimal as you become more accustomed to working with the hive tool, and your bees specifically,” she says.

There are also studies that state that bees recognize their keepers, so spending time interacting with the hives can be an important factor in keeping your bees (and you) calm.