Beekeeping is a profitable business or interesting hobby that anyone can do.
The initial setup may take some work but the sweet rewards are well worth it.
Honey is known as one of nature's natural healers and a delicious addition to many recipes.
Here are some basic beekeeping instructions and tips.
There is quite a bit to learn about beekeeping and it might help you to spend time with an experienced beekeeper first.
Specialized equipment and protective gear is required.
You could make the hives yourself but be sure you build them to the exact dimensions as there are particular patterns and compartments necessary for the bees to do their jobs.
Protective gear and equipment can be purchased new or used, as well as online however, never use a second-hand bee hive.
Plan out the location for the bees.
They need to be close to flowering plants, out of the way of strong winds and partly shaded if possible.
Although the hives do not require a lot of space, be mindful of nearby neighbors and the possibilities of anyone or anything disturbing them.
This isn't good for the health of your bees or the production of honey.
Also keep a bucket of water nearby, this deters them from looking for nearby swimming pools.
Honey bees need to drink water too.
You will need a large amount of bees because they are very social insects.
The bees can be purchased in already established colonies or in packs to add on your own.
The packs should include worker bees and a mated queen.
If you're feeling ambitious, bees can be caught in swarms and installed in your hives.
When buying them, consider buying the bees locally because they have a tendency to be less aggressive if they haven't been moved to far.
Once you have installed the bees and the hives are operating efficiently, it's time to monitor the build up of nectar.
The key to successful hives is proper management of nectar flows; this will also indicate the health of the bees.
It's best to build up a surplus before extracting the first time so that it's easier to harvest on a regular basis.
Inspect the hives regularly as well and make sure the queen is still laying eggs.
When it's time to harvest the honey, use a smoker to generate smoke which calms the bees while you work with the hives.
Extract the honey using a stainless steel extractor or bee brush to sweep the honey off of the hives.
The best time to do this is when most of the bees are away from the hive.
You can also buy a board that is saturated with a safe solution to attract the bees to it and away from where you are working.
Be sure to inspect your hives each fall and leave enough honey in the hive for the bees to eat during the cold months so that they provide you with a steady supply of healthy honey.