The Beekeeper

Congratulations on taking the exciting step of purchasing a nuc colony! Your journey into beekeeping is about to begin, and we're here to guide you through the initial steps to ensure a successful start.

When you receive your nuc colony, you'll find a carefully curated collection of frames containing bees at various stages of development, along with a marked queen bee—all ready to establish their new home in your hive. It's essential to be prepared before picking up your nuc, as proper planning can make the transition smoother for both you and your bees.

Before the big day, take some time to educate yourself about beekeeping. Read books, watch videos, and consider enrolling in an introductory beekeeping course to learn essential skills. As a beekeeper, you'll play multiple roles—caretaker, landlord, and vet—so get ready to wear different hats!

Choosing the location for your hive is another crucial step. Ensure it has ample sunlight, good ventilation, and protection from strong winds. Setting up your hive equipment in advance will make the installation process easier once you bring your nuc home.

Transporting your bees requires careful consideration to prevent overheating. Ensure a direct trip home without stops, and if traveling a distance, fuel up beforehand. Providing circulating outdoor air during transport is ideal, but if transporting in a car, ensure the AC is on and directed towards the nuc box.

Once you've brought your nuc home, it's time to install them in their new hive. There are various methods for installation, but the key is to transfer the frames from the nuc to your full-sized equipment within four days.

Remember, patience is key in beekeeping. Allow your bees time to settle into their new home without disturbance for the first few days. By following these initial steps and providing proper care, you'll be well on your way to a rewarding beekeeping experience!

Stay tuned for more tips and insights as we delve deeper into the fascinating world of beekeeping. Happy beekeeping!

Looking to build confidence, develop your technical beekeeping skills and/or learn the hands-on aspects of beekeeping?

Moving from theory to practice always presents a multitude of challenges.  Whether it is building up the courage to work a hive of 60,000+ honey bees, looking to try your hands at the craft or need some coaching, our beekeeper has developed a mentorship program to help you with the tools you need to succeed.

We are always looking for great locations and partners to host one of our honey bee yards. 

Interested? Read the post to find out if we would be a good fit!

It's always a really exciting, and nerve wracking decision to finally go for it and become a beekeeper.  It's a great hobby to take up and really seems to have something to offer for everyone.  From woodworking to animal husbandry, gardening, painting, crafts with hive products and interacting with Mother Nature, we all find out quickly that taking up beekeeping is really more involved than just playing with bugs!

Before you get started however, there are a few questions to think about.