/diy/ - Do It Yourself

I've been keeping bees for the past 3 years, getting back into it as an oldfag. Initially I helped my father manage 2-4 hive when I was atalented /diy/erteenager. If you're interested in beekeeping, I have to suggest that you go check out beesource.com and spend a day or so looking through their FAQs/beekeeping-for-newbies resources to get an understanding of the terminology and commitment required. Unless you are lucky enough to have a friendly local beekeeper willing to set you up with spare equipment and a colony/split/nuc, then you can expect to pay $200-400 for enough equipment to get established for your 1st year. Acquiring the bees themselves is another issue, as everything is tied to your local seasons/conditions.
1) take a look at beesource.com to get familiarized with what beekeeping really entails.
2) find out what local resources you have available (ie: local beekeepers/apiary-inspectors/mentors/local-beekeeping-club/4H/etc.)
3) decide if you really want to adopt a buzzing box of insects which could run you afoul of your SO/housemates/neighboors/laws
4) determine if you can reasonably expect to start a hive this season, or if the window of opportunity has closed (which really just gives you plenty of time to get stuff prepped for next year.)
5) impress all of your friends by casually mentioning how you risked death by sticking your hands into a buzzing box of angry bugs.

personally, I love the hobby and find the payoff in both materials (honey/wax/etc) and mental health (nothing develops zen-like focus like knowing that your mistakes will be repaid with angry stings).

and here's a pic of two hot underage chicks I was hanging out with last year in my backyard. My wife always said she wanted girls, just not 50 thousand of them...

>>429965
First off, go check out beesource.com, their forums are probably the best free resource for a newbee, and their forums contain all kinds of tips & instructions for folks who want to DIY with simple TBH designs.
Contact the beekeeper who's responsible for the hives on-campus, and tell him that you're looking to get started in beekeeping, and ask him if you could observe him next time he inspects/works the hives. I imagine that he'd be willing to help out an interested newbee and either let you observe/help with those hives, or possibly hives elsewhere if legal BS prevents him from letting you help on-campus. I'd definitely suggest attending the LFS seminar, which will probably give you a 1-2 hour overview of the basics of hive management, and a showcase for the stuff they want to sell you to start a hive (easily $300-500 for basic woodenware, protective gear, tools & packaged bees... which you probably is more than you can/want to drop on it.)
I'd _really_ suggest joining one of the local bee associations if you're serious about this, so much about beekeeping is regional/local, from the timing of nectar flows, local suppliers, inspection/legal issues, etc.
Assuming you're in the US, then your biggest challenge may be actually getting bees. I'm in the northeast, and like the past 3 years, everyone 'sold-out' their projected stock of packaged bees before the end of last year. The delivery of 3# packages from Georgia has already been delayed at least 2 weeks due to weather. Your best bet will be to get lucky with a local beekeeper who is willing to sell you a 'split' or if your local beekeeping association has extra packages (unlikely), either option can be expected to cost you $90-150.

If you want to get started cheaply this season, then look into making a simple TBH, and see if you can get a commercial 3# package, or a local split. Otherwise, invest in a a swarm lure and hope for the best.

pic: some of my girlfriends

>>368605
(continued...)
with all of that said, please don't be scared off of beekeeping, give it a try if you're interested; or find a local beekeeper and let them know that you're looking into the hobby. Most beeks would be glad to show you what's involved with a hive-inspection and 'show off their girls'.

I'm always glad to show someone the magic that goes on in the plain white boxes in my yard, and how mother nature (and hundreds of years of breeding) give us this super-organism which is both simple and hugely complex.

Besides, nobody will be calling you a sissy when they see you spread your own fresh honey on toast, or spoon it into your tea, and when they ask 'Do you ever get stung?', you can shrug it off as a minor inconvenience compared to the pay-off of harvesting sweet summer gold.

here's a picture of me hanging out with two of my girlfriends. Please don't tell my wife...

Incidentally, my wife always said she wanted girls, I don't think she was expecting to have 50 thousand of them in the backyard...