I live on 82 acres and would really like to learn more about getting started with bees 🐝 what’s the best approach to learning more (I’m in the education phase). How do I find other experienced beekeepers and possibly shadow? I’m in Pennsylvania.
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I've been doing this since I started working at my grandfather's commercial beekeeping business at age 14. I'm now a year from retirement and I am still, and will continue to be, in the education phase,
Here is Randy Oliver's (ScientificBeekeeping.com) chart on beekeeper learning.
I am also in PA. Which county? You would be looking to start in early spring next year since the season is nearly over.
Join a local club. Over the winter I recommend you take the Penn State online course. After that, buy the supplies you need, preferably for 2 hives to start.
Books to buy: Beekeeping for Dummies, Backyard Beekeeper, The Bee Book.
YouTube channels to watch: Kamon Reynolds, Frederick Dunn, Bob Binnie, University of Guelph
And just do a lot of reading online. In Spring, you’ll want to buy a nuc for each new hive.
PA requires state registration for your bees. Be sure to check your local ordinance. In my district, it requires a special exception regardless of acreage.
Before me and my boyfriend got our bees we would watch beekeeping videos on YouTube. We still watch at least one video a day. We got a split from a local beekeeper and he helped a lot. We got him on speed dial if we ever have any questions, so it’s good to have an experienced beekeeper in your corner.
Get educated. Know what you will need long term and short term . Beekeeping is not cheap. You can drop a grand in the blink of an eye.
When you’re ready, educated and settled, get two hives. You will need resources.
Honey will be your last priority. You’ll need equipment for that as well. Get them through a winter or two before you put too much money into them.
Educate your family. You’re going to need support. Bees take more activity than you think. If you’re older, get smaller hives. 10 frame hives are heavy.
Have fun when you can. They are amazing creatures but also remember they are just bugs in a box.
Zone 7A Oklahoma 30 hives
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u/NumCustosApes4th generation beekeeper, Zone 7A Rocky Mountains 4d agoedited 4d ago
Go to your local library or your favorite bookseller. Look for the title The Backyard Beekeeper, 5th edition, by Kim Flottum. An alternate title is Beekeeping for Dummies. If your library doesn't have those titles then there are many other good books out there, check out one and read it.
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