Things To Consider Before Getting Bees - Beekeeping Basics Part 1 - Beekeeping Crash Course

In this video I cover some essential thoughts and considerations to ponder before getting bees. This includes sting phobia/science, choosing the right beekeeping equipment, how to buy and install bees, common beginner mistakes and misconceptions and some thoughts on good hive/beeyard placement.

#beekeeper #beekeeping #bees

[JBEESHoneyJoelBrutcher]

Starting my 4th year. Always learning and re-learning. Your channel has been and is a wealth of knowledge. I totally agree varroa are the #1 problem and keeping them at bay is imperitive.

[goodwuns]

Love you videos. I'm starting my second year as a beek in Western NY and have had very few issues, overwintered my 2 hives without any problem. I feel I have a decent grasp on things but I still like going back to the "basics" videos for tips that I might have forgotten about and I especially like watching those from folks in similar climates. Thanks for posting!

[mrtraumaboyy]

Have a bunch of hive boxes on our property that were abandoned years ago. Have been attempting to learn what to do to save the three active hives that remain. Looking forward to seeing what happens next. At least I have a bunch of boxes, frames, excluders, ect. to get started with. Going to start treating for mites as soon as my fogger comes in. Appreciate your time and all this great info. Most of the setups are two deep 8 frame boxes with queen excluders on top. Not sure why that setup but there were some honey supers laying around too. I was informed that the guy that owned the bees passed away. Probably been out there 5 years. Expect the boxes to have a bunch of interesting things in them. Look forward to cracking them open when it finally warms up.

[josephtomkins]

I am just starting out these videos are extremely helpful keep them coming I am based in the uk keeps me occupied for hours

[jodygucwa]

Great job. New and newer bee keepers need a good comprehensive video series to help guide them. Well managed bee live stock means. Dead Varroa mites. Well feed bees when they need feeding.

[bobcearns]

Love your videos, but the live window in the bottom corner of your bee courses covers part of your slides and I'm one of those who likes to read along as you go. Spend way too much time trying to figure out what I'm missing. Keep up the good work.

[ressikanflute]

I got a smoker, hive tool, etc... 2 mediums 8's w/frame for about $350 Looking for swarms initially and study.

[aprilbatley]

How do i find a Mississippi nectar and also pollen flow chart for the year

[RobertBrown-txxk]

I grew up in Gratiot county about 40 miles north of Lansing. Which direction are you from Lansing? We never had bears where I grew up.

[DavidODuvall]

Whenever someone asks me to help them get into beekeeping I have them work bees with me before they get their own bees. Some people go into full "bee panic" mode while working bees. I've had full grown macho men who weren't afraid of anything go into a full blown panic when working bees and they can't control their panic - they literally had no idea that they would react with a panic mode. On the other hand, I've had people diagnosed with severe panic disorder work bees with me and it had a calming or even a therapeutic effect effect on them - strange but, true. I've had several people that the bees just went after them... They changed their soaps, shampoos, etc.., and the bees still went out of their way to go after them - my brother-in-law stays in the house when we work bees because he can be 100 to 200 feet away and they go after him while they don't bother me and I'm the one tearing into the hives. So, after Covid-19 runs its course, I advise finding a beekeeping club and ask someone (preferably an older member) to let you work bees with them before you invest your time, money and effort in getting your own bees. I think you will find that a lot of old time beekeepers are really nice people and will go out of their way to be helpful to the new prospective beekeeper.


On prospective places to start a bee yard. This Spring I've had 2 separate produce growers come and ask me to setup a bee yard on their land because they know that it can increase the productivity of their growing operation. Just make sure to ask if they, their family members or workers are allergic to bees before you proceed. Word of mouth about a 30 to 40% increase in produce production by having a bee yard gets around pretty fast. Just don't spread out your bee yards too far because you have to be able to justify and pay for the time and fuel of traveling to different yards.