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Beginner Beekeeping – Week 1

Dive into the world of beekeeping with our Week 1 guide. Learn what you need to get started this spring, from necessary equipment to hive management basics. Discover how bees build comb from wax for brood and food storage, and understand the hive's natural spring behaviors, including swarming. We’ll cover essential tools, hive setup options, and sources for bees and supplies. Get tips on local regulations and how to become a responsible bee ambassador in your community. Join us in this exciting journey into beekeeping!

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Beginner Beekeeping – Week 1

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  1. Beginner Beekeeping – Week 1 Getting ready to start

  2. Spring • What do I need? • Where do I get it? • How do I start? • And what’s it all about?

  3. Bees build comb from wax

  4. The use the comb for storage of brood (babies) and food

  5. smoke?

  6. The Challenge of Spring Like many animals in the spring the hive wants to make a new hive They make queen cells and prepare for swarming. • Allowing them to do this tends to freak out the neighbors!

  7. A more controlled method: • A package is an imitation swarm • 3 pounds of bees and a caged queen • A nucleus colony (“nuc”) is a miniature hive • 4 or 5 frames with brood, resources, and a laying queen

  8. Summer • What am I doing here? • How often should I get in? • What can go wrong? • Am I going to get stung? • Am I going to get any honey? Inspections for queen and brood health, pest management, always thinking about winter

  9. Fall • Pulling honey supers • Treating for Varroa mites* • Preparing for winter *If you learn only one thing from this class, learn about Varroa mites!

  10. For the coming spring Winter Learning . . . and waiting . . . When the cycle begins again

  11. Equipment – Necessary and nice[here is where you need to make some choices] Necessary Parts • Bottom board • Use a screened one • With an entrance reducer • Hive Bodies • 2 Deeps vs. 3 Mediums • Honey Supers • medium, or shallow • Inner Cover • Two sided, with a dado • Telescoping Outer Cover • “English Garden” Style, or galvanized • Frames • 8 vs. 10 • Foundation • Beeswax vs. Plastic Recommended Parts • Hive stand with landing board • with legs, or other support • Slatted Bottom Board • Helps with swarm prevention and overwintering • Some kind of feeder * We strongly recommend you start with two hives

  12. Tools – Necessary and nice Necessary Tools • Smoker • And fuel • Hive Tool • Good, better, or best • Protective Gear • Veil (with or without jacket) • Gloves • Leg Straps • Or a full suit (not really necessary) • Spray bottle (for packages, or swarms) Recommended Tools • Smoker box • Ammo box from the Army store • Queen Catcher • Metal vs. plastic • Bee Brush • Reading Glasses • Queen marking kit • Wintergreen Alcohol (a really good idea)

  13. Sources of Supply • Local vs. catalog • The Honey Exchange • Brown’s Bee Farm • Humble Abodes • Bee Pride • Brushy Mountain • Betterbee • We’re not fans of all-inclusive “Beginner Kits” • Bees • Packages vs Nucleus • Buzz Cooper • 232-3807 • Swan’s • 437-2251 • Merrimack • (978) 667-5380 • Bob Egan • 474-2945 Check out the Maine State Beekeeper’s website

  14. Join the Club! • Register with the state June 1st • Bookmark Tony Jadczak, save his e-mail • Maine State Beekeepers Association • The best $15 you can spend • The Bee Line • Cumberland County (or York Co.) Beekeepers Association • The best $4 you can spend • Get a mentor

  15. Neighbor Management • Like it or not, you will become a Bee Ambassador • Camouflage, vs. visibility • Put your name and number on your hives • Site selection • Flyway barriers • Water source • Read the South Portland Beekeeping Ordinance, even if you don’t live in South Portland

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