Guest Post: Getting Started in Beekeeping

Getting Started in Beekeeping

A Beginner’s Guide to Building a Strong Foundation for Success

By Marty Brunson, MDB Apiaries, LLC

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Editor’s note: This guest post comes from ASAN farmer member Marty Brunson of MDB Apiaries in Macon County. We are honored to share what he has learned along the way with anyone in Alabama thinking about keeping bees.

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Introduction

Few agricultural enterprises combine biology, conservation, pollination services, and food production quite like beekeeping. Whether your goal is to diversify your farm, improve crop pollination, produce honey, or create an additional source of income, beekeeping offers opportunities that extend well beyond the hive. For many farms it complements existing operations rather than competing with them. Honey bees improve pollination for fruits, vegetables, berries, orchards, and other specialty crops while producing marketable products such as honey, beeswax, nucleus colonies (nucs), queens, and pollen. For farmers looking to diversify, beekeeping can become a profitable enterprise that integrates naturally with many existing farming practices.

The idea of adding beekeeping to a diversified farm is not new. Dr. Booker T. Whatley, a horticulturist and professor at Tuskegee University, encouraged small farmers to build profitable operations by combining complementary enterprises. Through his concept of the Clientele Membership Club, he helped Black farmers take more control over the proceeds of their farming by selling directly to their customers. In his 1987 book, How to Make $100,000 Farming 25 Acres, he pointed to beekeeping and selling honey as a way to bring in income during seasons when there were fewer crops to sell, while the bees themselves improved pollination across the farm. That spirit of diversification is part of what still makes beekeeping a valuable addition to many farms today.

My own journey began with a simple curiosity. After reading books and watching videos about the biology of honey bees, I became captivated by what bees do and, more importantly, why they do it. The more I learned, the more I wanted to experience beekeeping firsthand. Because keeping bees in my neighborhood would likely have created problems with my homeowners association, I looked for local farmers who might host colonies. The arrangement was simple: the farmers would benefit from improved pollination, and I would have suitable locations for my apiaries, the places where beehives are kept.

What started as two colonies quickly became four by the end of my first year. Four became eight in my second year, and by my third year I was managing twenty-three. Today, MDB Apiaries maintains twenty-five colonies across two apiaries in Macon County, Alabama.

Along the way, I’ve discovered that successful beekeeping isn’t something you do alone. Whenever I’ve run into a challenge, whether a queen problem, swarming, pests, or simply learning a better management technique, experienced beekeepers have generously shared their knowledge. That willingness to help one another is one of the greatest strengths of our community, and it has played a major role in my own success.

If you’re considering adding beekeeping to your farm, or starting an operation of your own, I hope this guide helps you begin with realistic expectations and a solid foundation. The recommendations that follow are the same advice I would give anyone preparing to buy their very first hive.

Why Honey Bees Matter

Before I ever owned a hive, I thought honey was the primary reason people kept bees. I soon learned that while honey is a wonderful product, pollination is arguably the honey bee’s greatest contribution to agriculture. Every day, honey bees visit thousands of flowers collecting nectar and pollen, and as they move from flower to flower they transfer pollen that enables plants to produce fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and berries. Many of the foods we enjoy depend, at least in part, on insect pollination.

Honey bees are only one of many important pollinators. Native bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, and bats all contribute to healthy ecosystems, and each plays a unique role in supporting agriculture and natural habitats. What makes honey bees especially valuable is a behavior known as flower constancy. During a single foraging trip, a worker bee typically visits only one species of flowering plant. Rather than moving randomly from flower to flower, she focuses on a single crop before returning to the hive, which makes pollination far more efficient because pollen is consistently transferred between flowers of the same species.

Another advantage is that honey bees can be managed and transported. Every spring, commercial beekeepers move millions of colonies to California to pollinate almond orchards. After the almond bloom, many of those same colonies travel across the country pollinating blueberries, apples, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and other crops before returning home. Even here in Alabama, honey bees play an important role in pollinating home gardens, orchards, berry farms, and the countless wildflowers that support healthy ecosystems.

Every time I watch thousands of bees leave one of my hives, I’m reminded that they’re doing much more than making honey. They’re helping support farms, wildlife, and food production every single day.

Start with Education and Community

If I could offer only one piece of advice to someone thinking about becoming a beekeeper, it would be this: don’t buy bees first. Learn first. It’s easy to get excited after watching videos online or seeing someone harvest honey, and before long you’re shopping for equipment and wondering where to order bees. I understand that excitement because I felt it myself. Looking back, though, the best investment I made wasn’t my equipment or even my first colonies. It was education.

Before purchasing bees, I strongly encourage every prospective beekeeper to join a local beekeeping association, take a beginner beekeeping course, find an experienced mentor, and attend workshops, field days, and conferences whenever possible.

No book or video can replace the experience of opening a hive alongside someone who knows what they’re doing. Watching an experienced beekeeper inspect a hive teaches lessons you simply can’t get from a page or a screen. You’ll see how they handle frames, recognize eggs and brood, evaluate the queen’s performance, identify healthy colonies, and catch problems before they become serious. A local association also connects you with people who understand your area’s climate, nectar flows, and seasonal management practices. Advice that works well in another part of the country isn’t always right for Alabama, which makes local experience especially valuable. Perhaps most important, you’ll build relationships with people who are willing to answer questions when something unexpected happens, and eventually something will. Every beekeeper has opened a hive and wondered, “What are my bees doing now?” Having someone you can call makes all the difference.

One thing I’ve learned is that even the most experienced beekeepers keep learning. They attend classes, join conferences, exchange ideas, and constantly refine their management practices. That willingness to keep learning is one of the things that separates good beekeepers from great ones. Education doesn’t end after your first class or your first season. In many ways, that’s when the real learning begins.

Choosing Your Hive Setup

One of the first decisions every new beekeeper faces is what type of hive to use. Spend any time researching online and you’ll find countless opinions about hive styles, frame sizes, and equipment, because every beekeeper seems to have a favorite. My advice is simple: don’t overcomplicate your first decision.

For most beginners, I recommend a standard Langstroth hive, the familiar stacked-box hive used by most beekeepers in the United States. It offers several advantages. Equipment is readily available, replacement parts are easy to find, and most educational resources and mentors use this system. Choosing a common hive style also makes it easier to get advice, because you’re using the same equipment as most of the beekeepers around you.

Other options exist and may suit certain situations. Horizontal hives, sometimes called long hives, are a good choice for people who prefer to manage bees while seated or who can’t comfortably lift hive boxes that may weigh 30 to 45 pounds when full of honey. You’ll also find insulated and plastic hive systems that perform well under certain conditions. As a beginner, though, I recommend keeping things simple. Learning to manage honey bees is challenging enough without also learning a less common hive system. Once you gain experience, you’ll have plenty of chances to experiment.

Selecting an Apiary Location

Where you place your hives is just as important as the equipment you buy. A good location should receive morning sunlight, offer protection from excessive afternoon heat and strong winds, and provide easy access for routine inspections and maintenance. Colonies also need a continuous source of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season, and a diverse landscape of flowering trees, gardens, wildflowers, pastures, and crops will generally provide better forage than an area with only one major bloom.

Bees also need a dependable source of water, which they use to cool the hive, feed developing brood, and regulate the colony’s temperature. If you don’t provide one, they’ll find their own, which may be your neighbor’s swimming pool, birdbath, or pet’s water bowl. A shallow container of clean water with floating corks, pebbles, or sticks gives them a safe place to land while drinking.

If you plan to keep bees in a neighborhood or subdivision, research local ordinances and homeowners association rules before buying, since some communities restrict hive placement or the number of colonies allowed on a property. Just as important is building a positive relationship with your neighbors. Many people have never seen a managed honey bee colony and may simply have questions or concerns. Taking the time to introduce yourself, explain why honey bees matter, and answer questions often helps people grow comfortable with your operation. Sharing a jar of honey after your first harvest doesn’t hurt either.

Why I Recommend Starting with Two Hives

One of the questions I hear most often is, “How many hives should I start with?” The answer surprises many people: I almost always recommend two. Buying one hive may seem less expensive, but two colonies make learning much easier. With only one hive, it’s hard to know whether what you’re seeing is normal. With two, you immediately have something to compare. If one colony is thriving while the other is struggling, you’ll know something deserves a closer look, and comparing brood patterns, food stores, populations, and queen performance helps you build confidence much more quickly.

Starting with two colonies also gives you options. If one becomes weak, you may be able to strengthen it by sharing brood or resources from the stronger colony when appropriate. Perhaps most important, two colonies help reduce discouragement. Every beekeeper eventually loses a colony; it’s simply part of beekeeping. If your only hive dies, it’s easy to give up. When you have two, you still have bees to learn from while you figure out what happened to the other. For most beginners, the extra investment is well worth the educational value.

Choosing a Reputable Bee Supplier

Starting with healthy bees gives new beekeepers one of the best shots at a successful first season. Whenever possible, buy from a reputable local supplier. In Alabama, look for suppliers whose apiaries are inspected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. No inspection can guarantee that every colony is completely free of pests or disease, but regular inspections show a commitment to healthy colonies and sound management.

Buying locally offers other advantages. Your bees experience less transportation stress, they’re already adapted to Alabama’s climate and nectar flows, and you’ll often be able to ask questions directly of the beekeeper who raised them. Perhaps the greatest benefit is knowing exactly who to call if you have questions after bringing your bees home. A reputable supplier wants you to succeed, because their reputation depends on healthy colonies and satisfied customers.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions before you buy. How long has the queen been laying? How are Varroa mites monitored? Has the colony been inspected? Good suppliers are usually happy to discuss their practices, because they take pride in producing quality bees.

Understanding the Difference Between Package Bees and Nucleus Colonies

One of the first decisions you’ll make is whether to buy package bees or a nucleus colony, commonly called a nuc. Both can become productive colonies, but they begin very differently.

Package Bees

A package typically contains about three pounds of worker bees, roughly 10,000, along with a separately caged, mated queen. After installation, the workers must accept the queen, release her from her cage, build comb, and establish the colony from scratch. Packages generally cost less than nucs and are widely available in early spring, but they require more management during the first several weeks. Because the colony must build all of its comb before the queen has room to lay, development is slower, and there’s a chance the queen won’t be accepted or that the colony could abscond after installation.

Nucleus Colonies (Nucs)

A nuc is a small, established colony, usually four or five frames that include:

• A proven laying queen
• Worker bees of all ages
• Eggs, larvae, and capped brood
• Drawn comb
• Honey and pollen stores

Instead of starting from scratch, the colony is already functioning. The queen has shown she can lay well, young bees are emerging regularly, and the colony simply keeps growing after being transferred into your equipment. Nucs generally cost more than packages, but I believe they give beginners the best opportunity for success. Colonies develop more quickly, queen acceptance is no longer a concern, and under favorable conditions a nuc may even produce surplus honey in its first season.

When someone asks which option I recommend for their first bees, my answer is almost always the same: if your budget allows, buy healthy nucleus colonies from a reputable local producer. The extra cost often pays for itself through a smoother and more enjoyable first year.

What Does a Beekeeper Actually Do?

One of the biggest misconceptions about beekeeping is that it’s simply putting bees in a hive and harvesting honey at the end of summer. The reality is very different. Successful beekeeping is about observation, management, and solving problems before they become serious. Today’s honey bees face challenges their ancestors never encountered: Varroa mites, diseases, changing weather patterns, pesticides, and stretches of limited nectar all place added stress on colonies. A beekeeper’s job is to recognize these challenges and help healthy colonies stay healthy.

That begins with regular hive inspections. In spring, when colonies are growing rapidly and preparing for the year’s primary nectar flow, I typically inspect every seven to ten days, because a colony can change dramatically in a single week and regular inspections let me catch developing issues early. In late summer, fall, and winter, inspections become less frequent, usually every two to three weeks, depending on weather and the needs of the colony.

Every inspection has a purpose. I look for evidence that the colony is healthy and progressing normally by checking:

• The queen’s presence and brood pattern
• Eggs and young larvae, which show the queen has been laying recently
• Population growth and overall colony strength
• Food stores and available space
• Signs that the hive swarmed, or precursors to swarming
• Varroa mite levels and other pests
• Evidence of disease or abnormal brood

No two inspections are exactly alike. Every colony has its own personality. Some are calm and gentle, while others are more defensive. Some grow rapidly while another, sitting just a few feet away, develops much more slowly. Those differences are part of what makes beekeeping so fascinating. Many people are surprised to learn that harvesting honey is actually one of the smallest parts of beekeeping. Most of the work happens long before the first frame of honey is ever removed. Healthy colonies produce honey because they’ve been managed well all year.

What Does It Cost to Get Started?

One of the first questions prospective beekeepers ask is, “How much will it cost?” The answer depends on the equipment you choose and whether you buy new or used, but for someone beginning with two colonies, a realistic budget is roughly $700 to $1,200. Typical expenses include:

• Hive equipment: complete hive bodies, frames and foundation, bottom boards, inner covers, and outer covers
• Bees: package bees or, preferably, nucleus colonies (nucs)
• Protective equipment: a bee suit or jacket, veil, and gloves
• Basic tools: a smoker and a hive tool
• Education: local association membership, a beginner course, and workshops and conferences

You can reduce costs by buying used equipment or building your own woodenware, but always be certain used equipment is free of disease before introducing it into your apiary. The money you spend in your first year is really an investment in good habits and a solid foundation. Quality equipment, healthy bees, and good education set you up for years of enjoyable beekeeping.

Be a Good Neighbor

Every beekeeper serves as an ambassador for the beekeeping community. Whether your hives sit on a farm or in a residential setting, responsible beekeeping means being considerate of the people around you. Whenever practical:

• Place hives away from property lines and heavily traveled areas
• Use shrubs or fences to encourage bees to fly above head height
• Provide a dependable water source
• Avoid keeping more colonies than your property can support
• Maintain healthy colonies through regular inspections and responsible mite management

If your neighbors have questions, take the time to answer them. Many people simply don’t understand honey bees or how they differ from wasps and yellow jackets. One of the easiest ways to build goodwill is to share your honey; a small jar of local honey often becomes the start of a great conversation about pollinators and why beekeeping matters. Responsible beekeepers don’t just care for their bees. They help create positive experiences that encourage others to appreciate them too.

Getting Started Checklist

Thinking about becoming a beekeeper? Follow these simple steps to build a strong foundation for success.

□ Learn the basics of honey bee biology

□ Join your local beekeeping association

□ Take a beginner beekeeping course

□ Find an experienced mentor

□ Purchase your equipment before your bees arrive

□ Buy healthy bees from a reputable local supplier

□ Consider starting with nucleus colonies (nucs)

□ Begin with two hives rather than one

□ Continue learning through workshops, conferences, and experienced beekeepers

□ Enjoy the journey

Final Thoughts

When I brought home my first two colonies, I thought I was starting a hobby. Looking back, I realize I was beginning a lifelong journey. Since then I’ve celebrated successful honey harvests, learned valuable lessons from setbacks, and developed an even greater appreciation for the remarkable biology of honey bees. Every season has taught me something new, and every challenge has made me a better beekeeper.

One lesson has stayed constant: no one becomes a successful beekeeper alone. The generosity of experienced beekeepers who answered my questions, shared ideas, and offered encouragement has been invaluable, and it’s one of the things that makes this community so special.

If you’re thinking about becoming a beekeeper, don’t worry about knowing everything before you begin. None of us did. Start with education, find a mentor, ask questions, and learn from your bees. Most of all, enjoy the journey. You may begin because you want fresh local honey, but you may discover, as I did, that the real reward is becoming part of a lifelong community dedicated to learning, stewardship, and the remarkable world of honey bees.

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Marty is a graduate of the Heroes to Hives program and has completed the Journeyman level of the Alabama Master Beekeepers Program. He is currently pursuing Master Beekeeper certification, which includes advanced training, community education, and practical beekeeping competencies.

MDB Apiaries has been honored to receive two Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (ASAN) Undo the Knot mini grants, which have helped strengthen the operation through investments in equipment and infrastructure. Marty is grateful for ASAN’s continued commitment to supporting small farms, beekeepers, and sustainable agriculture throughout Alabama.

To learn more about MDB Apiaries, locally produced honey, and educational resources, visit www.mdb-apiaries.com.