So you have decided that you want to keep bees, you may or may not have completed a beginners course, you may have some or no experience in handling honeybees, equipment etc. Or you may have had a passing interest for a while that you want to act on.
Well now is a good a time as any, you certainly won’t be alone as there has been a ground swell of interest in beekeeping recently. In practical terms, you are probably a bit late for this year as it would be difficult to obtain a Nuc etc, at this stage
But where do you start?
Well, it doesn’t matter if you live in a rural or urban area, almost anyone can keep bees.
Here at ezeebeez we would always recommend that you start out by contacting a local beekeeper. They are usually very helpful, and very willing to help those who have an interest.
Secondly, join a local beekeeping organisation/association (see the end of this post for more details). Beekeeping associations generally have classes organised over the winter/spring time.
With regards to basic knowledge, and skills, these classes are invaluable. They are delivered by experienced beekeepers with a wealth of knowledge. In addition to this, associations offer insurance at reduced rates.
That being said, there is a perception in some quarters that Associations are a closed shop, and that if you don’t adhere to convention, you are left on the outside.
This has not been my personal experience. As a member of Offaly Beekeepers Association, I have always felt welcome, and both conventional and “natural” methods have been discussed openly.
With regard to those who prefer more “natural” methods of beekeeping, unless you know the conventional, how can you make decisions on “natural”?
One word of advice though. In general I would avoid the one- day beekeeping courses that seem to be springing up. These are not always run by beekeepers with the adequate knowledge or experience.
Also be very wary of the e-books available on the internet, most of the information available in them is freely available on the web. But do buy a good book that appeals to you, and join blogs or forums, where you can get to know more about beekeeping.
Regards
James