Beekeeping

Honeybees have provided us with honey for sweetening and cooking, wax for wonderful candles and cosmetic products, and have added greatly to our well-being by pollinating our crops for a number of centuries now.  Even so, the American Indian knew nothing about Apis melifera - the honeybee.  European settlers introduced the honeybee to North America, and, as they settled this country, moved bees across the United States and to the South American continent.

Once, it was a common practice for a family to maintain a few hives for their personal use. Today, beekeeping is not so common; and with this decline, we have relied heavily on wild honeybees or commercial beekeepers to provide us with bee products and pollination services.

This worked well up until the 1970’s and ‘80’s when we saw major changes in agricultural and logging methods. Chippers made it possible for loggers to harvest even the smallest trees, which in our area, included the all important sourwood. Farmers   began farming from fence row to fence row, removing many of the plants important to bees for honey production. Even the close mowing of rural roadsides reduced another important honey source - sweet clover.  About this time, bees came under attack by new pests, namely, tracheal and varroa mites. These new attacks have greatly impacted beekeeping, leaving us with fewer honeybees and fewer beekeepers. Today, there is a renewed interest in beekeeping; especially hobby beekeeping.  If you think you might be interested in keeping a few bees, let’s discuss the best ways to begin.

You may want to consider several methods as a beginning beekeeper. The best way to begin, of course, is to purchase an established hive from a reputable source. When buying an established colony, it’s always best to purchase a unit containing a hive body and one super, which is the frame in which the bees build their comb.   The best idea is to purchase two hives so that you could combine the equipment should a problem occur with one or the other of your hives. Purchasing packaged bees in the spring and placing them in new equipment is a good way to begin. This method greatly increases your chances of having a disease free hive. Purchasing packaged bees from a southern bee producer in early spring gives plenty of time for the hive to establish itself and produce enough honey for their survival and for your table.  Catching and hiving a swarm is a really fun way to begin and one that also decreases your cost in the new beekeeping venture. If you know a willing beekeeper, you could order a new queen and make a split from his established hives. Or, find a bee tree and cut it down - with permission, of course!

The best time to begin beekeeping is in the late winter or early spring. This allows you to complete an entire beekeeping cycle from spring startup until harvest in the same calendar year. Starting anytime through June should allow for bees to become established during most years in Virginia. There is an old bee saying that is worth remembering: “A swarm in May is worth a load of hay. A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon. A swarm in July - let ‘em fly.”

Beekeeping equipment runs from basic to high tech. You can start simply with a veil, smoker, gloves, a hive tool, a bee brush, bees, a hive and super, and foundation wax. As with everything else, you’ll probably keep adding and becoming more sophisticated as time goes on.  An extractor becomes a very important piece of equipment, once you own more than a few hives. Two- and four- frame extractors are readily available for hand extraction, and motorized models are available once you pass the hobby stage.  Pumps, heaters, storage tanks, filters - the list goes on and on. You’ll certainly want to customize your equipment based on your time, resources, and the size of your operation. 

Beekeepers produce honey in liquid form called extracted honey.  They may produce

cut-comb honey by simply cutting the entire comb from the frame, and then packaging it in a plastic box. Really sophisticated producers at times produce section honey by placing pre-formed sections in a hive for the bees to fill with comb honey. This process crowds the bees in their hive and often increases the tendency to swarm.

The expense of keeping bees has increased over the years. This is one of the major reasons we have such a shortage of beekeepers. Currently, it may be more profitable to rent beehives for pollination than to expect a profit from selling the honey. Apple, peach, and vegetable producers understand the increased production from adequate pollination and are quite willing to pay for the service of your hives. Having a few hives around will certainly increase the bounty from your own orchard or garden.

Has your interest in beekeeping been aroused?  If so, talk to an established beekeeper. Most beekeepers enjoy sharing their craft and would be more than willing to have you tag along as they check their bee yards or work in the honey house.  Joining a local beekeepers club is a great way to tap into valuable information and a good way to avoid expensive beginner mistakes. Talk to your local extension office for names of beekeepers in your area and the latest extension information. Come on! Join the world of beekeeping. You’ll find it to be a fascinating hobby. You’ll certainly be improving your environment. And, you’ll be focusing on nature’s interconnections in ways you never imagined. Yes, there may be an occasional sting; but the rewards are just so, so sweet.

Written by members of the Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners

posted 3/1/07