Adventures in beekeeping: It’s time to get started
Published 3:27 pm Friday, February 17, 2017
Every adventure must begin somewhere, and I guess my adventure in beekeeping began in 2005.
A friend and volunteer youth minister at my church showed me his two beehives and described the way he harvested honey each year. I could hear a great enthusiasm in his voice as he communicated a love for the hobby. I filed those thoughts away, thinking that beekeeping would be a fun and different hobby.
Fast-forward to January 2013, when I reluctantly took the plunge into social media. As I started looking through a growing list of contacts, I noticed pictures of my friend with his two hives in the background. I am a preacher who spends a lot of time in the office reading and researching for sermons, and I was looking for a hobby that would give me a change of pace. Could beekeeping be what I needed?
I began reading about beekeeping and talking to beekeepers. I connected with Tom Garcia and a handful of others as we founded the Beaufort County Beekeepers Association. Our goal was to increase the number of hives in our community as we educated ourselves and the community about honeybees. During my adventures in beekeeping, I have discovered a change of pace and a true sense of peace when I am surrounded by the hum of a happy colony of bees going about their work. I am fascinated and surprised by these amazing little creatures.
Many good people have helped me along the way in my adventure. Some experienced beekeepers have given me equipment and bees. Others have donated time to help me grow in my understanding of honeybees and what it takes to help them thrive. My mentor is a commercial beekeeper from Roper, with hundreds of hives. His help has been invaluable.
Over the last four years I have captured swarms, and trapped swarms in bait boxes set out around the county. I have removed bees from inside trees, sheds and houses for those who call on me for help. I get to help teach a beginning beekeepers course for our local beekeeping club. I also get opportunities to go into local schools and teach children about honeybees. What started as a fun hobby has become a fun sideline business, as I sell hundreds of pounds of local honey each year.
So now you know how my adventure in beekeeping began. There are stories I could tell about the many mistakes I have made along the way. There are funny experiences to share, too. There are observations in the beehive that cause me to marvel at the creativity of our God. Maybe we can talk about these another time. But for now, let’s think about how your adventure in beekeeping could begin.
Just as there were people who helped me get started with bees, you have the same opportunity. The Beaufort County Beekeepers Association meets at the Beaufort County Extension office on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6- 8 p.m. We share stories and lessons learned while working with bees, and we usually have a presentation on some aspect of the hobby. If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping and networking with local beekeepers, you are welcome to join us.
Your adventure may lead to having two or three hives in your backyard, or to two or three hundred hives spread across the county. You have to start somewhere, and the best place I can think of for your start is a beginner’s course in beekeeping.
The Beaufort County Beekeepers Association will be offering a beginners beekeeping course at the Extension office. The course includes two days of teaching in seminar format, and one day in the field getting hands-on experience and training. The two classroom days are March 4 and March 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. The field day is planned for March 25, but could be rescheduled depending on weather. The cost for the class is $30. This includes the cost of a book you will receive as a class resource and a one-year membership in the Beaufort County Beekeepers Association. Registration and payment will be taken at the door on the first day of class, however space is limited. If you would like to pre-register, to be sure you get in the class, please contact Lisa Beacham by phone at 252-945-9497 or email cbfarms@embarqmail.com.
This course is designed to give you a foundational understanding of honeybees and beekeeping practices. You will also be introduced to several local beekeepers who are more than willing to offer encouragement and advice to help you along the way as you begin your adventure in beekeeping. At the conclusion of the course, you will have an opportunity to become a certified beekeeper with the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, should you choose to take and pass a written test and practical exam.
The course will prepare you to be able to pass this test, but there is no requirement to take a test. We are offering this course so that you can have an opportunity to learn more about honeybees, whether you want to become a beekeeper or you simply want to understand these fascinating creatures a little better.
Do you want to start a hobby that is “different?” Do you want to know how bees communicate? Do you want to know how and why they make honey? Have you ever wondered how a swarm works or wanted to look inside of hive while surrounded by thousands of stinking insects? You now have an opportunity to learn some of the answers and to experience the thrill of beekeeping, and you don’t have to do it on your own. We are here to help. Isn’t it time to begin your adventure in beekeeping?
Chris Hux is the president of the Beaufort County Beekeepers Association.
Beginners Beekeeping Course
When: March 4, 11 and 25
Where: Beaufort County Extension Office, 155A Airport Road, Washington,
Cost: $30 (includes class materials and one-year association membership)
To register: contact Lisa Beacham, 252-945-9497 or email cbfarms@embarqmail.com