Getting Started
Here are some things to think about as you step into beekeeping:
You will need to decide on what kind of hive you want to have, and then purchase or build them in time for spring. Swarms start as early as February, but April is when the flowers really start blooming and the swarms start moving. Timing is everything with bees, so plan to be ready for the next spring.
Location of your hives on your property is key — door facing southeast, shade during the afternoon. An experienced beekeeper from the UVBA can help you properly locate your hives on your land, but know that these girls will be active.
You will need equipment: a bee suit, hive tools, a brush, jars or other equipment to feed the bees, a journal if you’d like, to keep track of your bees. Will you need a smoker, a honey extractor, a special vacuum to use on cutouts? This is where a mentor comes in handy, to make sure you’re finding everything you need to be a responsible and well-equipped beekeeper. See more about equipment HERE.
Join a club, watch a lot of YouTube videos, read books, but always remember — every beekeeper handles their hives how they see fit. What works for one beek may not jive with another. The advantage of watching a lot of other people work in their hives is that you will see tips and tricks here and there that will suddenly make sense — or not — to you as you begin to work with your bees.
Where will you get your bees? Buying bees is an option but keep in mind those bees are gathered in another area of the country and flown or trucked to Douglas County. They do not know this area, the plants we have here, or our weather. It is suggested in the long run to find local bees, through local bee sellers, or even better — from cutouts and swarms caught in the Umpqua Valley. That is where a club can come in handy and it won't cost you more than a $20 annual membership.
What kind of beekeeper will you be? Some people are very hands-on. They love to check on their hives, paying close attention to the best time to split a hive, or they’ll notice a queen is not doing well and so they will requeen the hive. Others are more hands-off and prefer to allow the bees to do their Bee Things without so much intervention. Neither are wrong, but the results may be different — the more involved beekeeper will certainly notice issues earlier and can then be more proactive, but a more natural beek may not be as concerned because they keep bees as the wild creatures they are, allowing them to swarm as they see fit. How you manage your hives is a personal choice, and your views may change over time the more you learn about honeybees and their needs.
You will need to decide on what kind of hive you want to have, and then purchase or build them in time for spring. Swarms start as early as February, but April is when the flowers really start blooming and the swarms start moving. Timing is everything with bees, so plan to be ready for the next spring.
Location of your hives on your property is key — door facing southeast, shade during the afternoon. An experienced beekeeper from the UVBA can help you properly locate your hives on your land, but know that these girls will be active.
You will need equipment: a bee suit, hive tools, a brush, jars or other equipment to feed the bees, a journal if you’d like, to keep track of your bees. Will you need a smoker, a honey extractor, a special vacuum to use on cutouts? This is where a mentor comes in handy, to make sure you’re finding everything you need to be a responsible and well-equipped beekeeper. See more about equipment HERE.
Join a club, watch a lot of YouTube videos, read books, but always remember — every beekeeper handles their hives how they see fit. What works for one beek may not jive with another. The advantage of watching a lot of other people work in their hives is that you will see tips and tricks here and there that will suddenly make sense — or not — to you as you begin to work with your bees.
Where will you get your bees? Buying bees is an option but keep in mind those bees are gathered in another area of the country and flown or trucked to Douglas County. They do not know this area, the plants we have here, or our weather. It is suggested in the long run to find local bees, through local bee sellers, or even better — from cutouts and swarms caught in the Umpqua Valley. That is where a club can come in handy and it won't cost you more than a $20 annual membership.
What kind of beekeeper will you be? Some people are very hands-on. They love to check on their hives, paying close attention to the best time to split a hive, or they’ll notice a queen is not doing well and so they will requeen the hive. Others are more hands-off and prefer to allow the bees to do their Bee Things without so much intervention. Neither are wrong, but the results may be different — the more involved beekeeper will certainly notice issues earlier and can then be more proactive, but a more natural beek may not be as concerned because they keep bees as the wild creatures they are, allowing them to swarm as they see fit. How you manage your hives is a personal choice, and your views may change over time the more you learn about honeybees and their needs.