Additional Information
Before you order your first bee package, you should prepare yourself by
reading about bees and beekeeping. "Start subscribing to the bee journals,"
suggests beekeeper John Iannuzzi.
Get to know other beekeepers and go to association meetings. Visit other
bee farming operations, watch them work and listen to their advice. "You can
find them by joining a local beekeeping group."
Make sure you're outfitted with new or properly inspected used equipment.
Also make sure that you have the proper protection for yourself before you
begin.
Start small. Two to four hives are plenty for a beginning beekeeper to
handle. "People who want to consider beekeeping should enjoy being independent
and should be able to run their own businesses," says beekeeper Ron Miksha.
Most keepers learn the trade on the job or work as assistants to larger
commercial beekeepers. Training courses are available at local agricultural
colleges and community colleges. People who want to get into bee research
or become an inspector have the option of studying agriculture and apiculture
at the university level.
In the United States, you must obtain a beekeeping license from your state
in order to keep bees.