The bee population has been on a steady decline for a decade now, but humans are not sitting idly by to watch them wither to dust. In fact, many have turned to backyard beekeeping to help boost the population of the buzzing pollinators. This is far from being surprising considering that people are now aware how bees help in keeping our food supply sufficient for years to come.
Consumer agriculture has been managing honeybees for the benefit of their crops. Backyard beekeepers are after the steady supply of honey and pollination of their own gardens. While these reasons may seem selfish, it goes without saying that the action mankind is doing still benefits the pollinators.
Still, if you are thinking about having a beehive in your backyard for whatever reason, it is imperative that you learn how to do it properly. To help you out, we have listed down 6 things you should remember when establishing a backyard beehive.
Understanding how bees behave, how to raise them, and what not to do when keeping them in your backyard is important for any aspiring beekeeper. This way, you and your family avoid being stung by bees unwittingly and the buzzing pollinators are saved from extinction. To do this, you can simply head to your local bookstore for DIY backyard beekeeping books or browse the Internet for vast knowledge on bees. Beekeeping associations in your neighborhood can also provide invaluable information about how to raise bees based on the geographic situation and legal implications of the hobby in your city or state.
Having the right kind of equipment makes any kind of hobby safer and more worthwhile. The same is true for backyard beekeeping. Be sure to list down equipment mentioned in your research materials. After that, don’t hesitate to ask beekeeping associations and other related organizations for possible ways of securing the tools you need without you shelling out a huge sum of cash.
Various states have different laws covering beekeeping, so be sure to include this in your research. While bees don’t make as much ruckus as other animals, it is still best to get the approval of governing bodies before you establish your backyard beehive. To be sure, go to your town or city hall and ask around for zoning laws about keeping bees. Some states also require beehives to be inspected before being taken home to avoid propagation of disease among the pollinators.
Experts in bees’ ecology highly recommend getting local bees as it would be easier for them to adapt to the flora around your neighborhood. In the same manner, including native plants in your bee garden would be beneficial for the bees as they already are ecologically matched. The bottom line is to complement the plants they have grown accustomed with the types of bees you are raising to ensure the hive’s survival.
When setting up the hive, it is important to know the proper location to put it. Experts recommend placing it in a way that the hive’s entrance face east or south. If possible, hives should also be put on a higher point and make sure that they aren’t anywhere near doors and windows of your house. This way, you can avoid blocking their flight path.
Of course, doing further research on this would be very useful to determine how to properly do it according to your backyard’s specifications, location, and garden layout.
Like humans, bees require water to survive. Bees often locate water sources in the wild, but since they will soon be living in your backyard, it is important to put up one for them in the form of a birdbath or even an old bathtub. All you need is creativity and resourcefulness in incorporating it into your garden landscape.
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