Why Do Bees? What’s Involved? How to Start? Plus Book Recommendations

Sweet little Italian bees, capping honey.

I can’t speak for every beekeeper, but I know for me there was a multidimensional allure to setting up hives on my little farm.  For one thing, I like honey. Let me repeat: I really like honey! Furthermore, I thought hosting bees would be a positive addition to our garden operations. Because bees have become imperiled due to development, pesticides, and the unintended consequences of globalization, I hoped it would also be a way to “give back,” to help the planet as well as my community through the support of much-needed pollinators. Finally, the prospect represented a good personal stretch goal – always gotta have those.  Too comfortable, you’re not really living.  Too stressed, you’re only subsisting.  It’s the stretch goals that help build happiness.  Since the whole business of beekeeping was foreign to me, it seemed like a good fit for my new year in 2017.  Plus, I just thought it would be fun.   

If you’re going to raise bees, you might as well have two hives going. It’s interesting and educational to compare how they perform, and should there be problems, it’s possible to combine them.

So what’s really involved in beekeeping? A lot more than I originally thought! Certainly one needs tools, hive equipment, and protective clothing. But one also needs at least a bit of education to start, and a fair amount of time, 1-2 hours a week in my neck of the woods, from Spring through Fall. The time commitment may vary based one’s locality. Beekeeping is really all about supporting colonies so they can successfully reproduce, pollinate, and yield their sweet rewards. To do so, you need the education to know how to identify potential disease, recognize a non-productive queen, prevent swarming, etc. And you need the time to slowly and methodically examine the interior of your colonies to check on all those things, making sure they are healthy and on a good path towards honey harvest and beyond. I mean it when I say slowly. You really cannot rush a hive inspection - unless you want to get stung.

In the Seattle area, beekeeping begins in the Spring.  Bees can’t do their thing below 55 degrees - it’s just too cold for them.  Because of this, beekeeping classes generally start earlier in the year, often around January, and the preparation of the hive equipment takes place shortly thereafter.  One could learn all the basics through books (recommendations below), but if you can find a class, I would encourage it. Not only will it help you decide if you’re ready for the leap, a class will give you confidence, a support group, and possibly a mentor to share your adventure with. If you miss the classes and/or the start of the beekeeping season, then check out a local beekeeper’s group. They often have work parties throughout the season where you can get a fun, closer look at the world of bees. Check out this link to the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association for some options in the Seattle area.

Have to say, harvesting our first jar of honey truly spiked my happiness meter!

Two years in, I’m glad I took the leap. Having bees in residence on my little farm has been fun more often than not. We’ve enjoyed great honey (blackberry-flavored, of course); and delighted even more in sharing it. Equally gratifying has been the surprising serenity that has come from working with the bees; it’s almost a meditational experience. I also can’t tell you how many times I’ve caught myself just watching them fly in and out and about. “Bee TV” we call it, because it’s so ridiculously captivating. Yes, there have been tough and challenging moments to this ride. And there remains still so much to learn to become better at it. But that’s what makes such undertakings rewarding isn’t it? To learn and grow through the ups and downs, and then share the sweet rewards? It’s a great way to bee happy (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun)!

P.S. Here are two books I keep handy on my beekeeping adventure: Beekeeping for Dummies, by Howland Blackiston; and The Backyard Beekeeper, by Kim Flottum.