r/Beekeeping • u/GArockcrawler GA Certified Beekeeper • 2d ago
I come bearing tips & tricks It's that time of year again - beekeeping tips for new beekeepers (North America)
For those who got hive kits for the holidays and/or who have decided to pick up beekeeping as a 2025 hobby, congratulations! You're going to have a great adventure.
Here are some tips to help ensure that you're getting the best start possible and protecting your investment in your bees and equipment:
- Do yourself an enormous favor and find a local club to get involved with, now. The information will be current and relevant to your local climate. Not sure how to find a local club? I have made a list of state/provincial associations to start with here. Many can help connect you to local clubs and experts.
- Related to this point, if you're in the US, identify who your closest land grant universities are and listen to what they're telling you regarding key topics like feeding and pest control. In Canada, find reputable universities (U of Guelph comes to mind if you're in Ontario) and tune into them.
- Many local clubs will have bee schools over the winter and into early spring. Register for one and attend it. They will tell you everything you need and share with you timelines that work in your location. Often, they will also be able to help you purchase your first bees from reputable sources.
- Once you've found your local support network, find a singular local expert - ideally someone who can serve as your mentor - and follow their instructions for the first year or two. Beekeeping has a significant learning curve and the bees' needs change from season to season. Learn what's necessary for your area and get good at it, THEN look at getting creative or making improvements that nobody's thought of before. You'll save yourself a lot of time, money, and heartache.
- Go watch an expert work their hives. Offer to help them. Look for a club with a teaching apiary and participate in club activities. There is SO much to learn here from folks when you take a hands-on approach. Book learning is really no substitute for experience, here.
- For goodness' stake, stay off of YouTube, or at least do not use it as a primary source of information. Refer to the prior points above. I've seen a lot of folks come to my club absolutely going in circles because of the conflicting and competing info they've found on YouTube. Use YouTube, books, podcasts, etc. as supplemental learning materials that extend what you're learning in your club and with your mentor.
Experts, what have I missed here? Please add on.
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u/PopTough6317 2d ago
Flowhive has a online course you can take that covers the basics. If you order your hive from them there is a good chance you get it free.
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u/nostalgic_dragon Upsate NY Urban keeper. 7+ colonies, but goal is 3 2d ago
Speaking of courses. If you're a veteran or first responder, Heroes to Hives and Hives for Heroes both offer educational resources and perhaps more support. This includes full reimbursement for completing a beekeeping program. Worth looking into especially if you're interested in beekeeping and are not sure where to start. I know one of them has a mentoring program as well. I am not a veteran so I don't remember all the details about which is what, but they're both good resources for those who can utilize their services.
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u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer Arizona 2d ago
Heroes to Hives is a FREE online beginning beekeeping program for US Armed Service Members (Veterans, Reservists, Active Duty, or National Guard members), dependents of participating service members, Gold Star family members, surviving spouses of US veterans, registered Veteran Service Officers, and VA employees.
Registration for the 2025 class is open to eligible students at www.HerosToHives.com until February 28, 2025.
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u/GArockcrawler GA Certified Beekeeper 1d ago
This is a fantastic shoutout to a great organization. Thank you!
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u/cardew-vascular Western Canada - 2 Colonies 2d ago
Resources for BC - the BC gov offers free beekeeping courses to British Columbians hosted by the chief Apiculturist. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees/bee-courses
Local calendars, native plants and current bulletins - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees
BC Honey Producers Association list of clubs - https://bchoneyproducers.ca/info-for-beekeepers/bc-bee-clubs/
University of British Columbia - https://beehive.ubc.ca/node/368
BC Honey Producers Association Tech Transfer program - https://www.ttp-bchpa.ca/resources-for-beekeepers
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u/sahnd 1d ago
Best newbie advice I got that isn’t mentioned here:
Don’t start with 1 hive. Start with 2. Many good reasons, but what was most salient was “You won’t often know something looks off as a newbee unless you have something to compare against.”