Getting Started with Beekeeping!

by Patrick T Reynolds
(Union, KY)

I'm very excited about the prospect of being a beekeeper. My wife and I are in our sixties and this seems like a lovely way to spend our "golden" years. I plan to buy a small farm in a few years, but currently we live in a development. Our HOA does not allow (understandably) bee hives on the property, but that top bar hive looks intriguing. You noted that it is important that the neighbors are comfortable with bees when using this type of hive, is the Langstroth hive safer? Looking forward to your response, and am eager to get started. Best PTR

Hi Patrick

The reason I said that the neighbors should be comfortable with you keeping bees in a top bar hive is not because they're any less safe than any other hive. The only reason is that they're more difficult to move if someone objects.

They're bigger and heavier and because the combs aren't in frames they're more fragile and can easily fall off inside when the hive is moved. You could certainly move a top bar hive, it's just more difficult than a more conventional design.

If it's possible to keep a hive or two on your property which cannot be seen by neighbors I would do that. If you use Langstroth hives and someone complains, you could move them elsewhere. I'd rather seek forgiveness than permission. An alternative would be to see whether you can find a friend or acquaintance who might let you keep a hive or two on their property.

If you delay, when you find out how fascinating it is, you'll kick yourself for not starting sooner. Don't wait until you retire, you might not have time to do it then, you're excited, do it now!

The Bee Guy