Bees for Beginners

Make the Most of Your Hobby

1. Invest in Tools & Supplies: Making the most of your new hobby requires the right tools and supplies. Invest in equipment and consumables that will help make your hobby easier, faster, and more accurate. If budget is an issue, check out local yard sales and second-hand stores to get the most bang for your buck.

2. Protection: Bees are precious, and their protection is essential. Equip them with a mesh guard to keep vermin way, and with a roof fitted over the hive to prevent bad weather and predators. You may also want to consider enclosing the hive and its surroundings in tight mesh.

3. Join an Online Community: Connecting with other people who share your interest is a great way to learn more about your hobby. Not to mention, you can bounce ideas off them, find mentors and even find people with whom you can meetup to exchange best practices.

4. Set Asisde Time: With a busy lifestyle, it's easy to let your hobby slip through the cracks of your day-to-day. But, if you want to make the most of it, you'll need to make time. Set aside a few hours each week - even a few days - to focus on your hobby. Doing so will help build your skills and make it easier to further or explore it. Check and maintain your beehives regularly. Helpful tips:

   • Check for adequate food
   • Ensure the ventilation is good
   • Check hive health (mites, pests, etc.)
   • Look out for signs of stress
   • As necessary, add honey supers

5. Create a Bee-Friendly Environment: To create a safe space for bees to call home, individuals and communities can plant a variety of flowers that bloom with various colors, scents, and shapes. This will provide the bees the resources they need to survive, and will also provide additonal benefits to the environment.

6. Reduce the Use of Pesticides: Pesticides have been found to have a damaging effect on bee populations and should be avoided as much as possible. If pesticide use is absolutely necessary, opt for organic, low risk varieties that are safer for bees.

7. Plant Native Flowers: One way individuals can help is to plant native flowers that help attract many species of bees; or if there's not enough land available to grow, these actions can be taken:

   • Switch to organic and pesticide-free gardening products
   • Donate to organizations that look to protect the environment
   • Buy local honey and pollen seasonally
   • Support farmer's efforts to practice biodiversity
   • Become a beekeeper yourself

8. Educate Your Community: Spreading knowledge and awareness about bee population health and sustainable practices is a great way to protect and preserve bee populations.