Beginning in Beekeeping: Start Your Very First Beehive!

This lecture introduces section two.

In this lecture we look at the different approaches to beekeeping including natural beekeeping.

In this activity you will reflect on your own approach to beekeeping.

This lecture looks at fixed comb hives.

This lecture looks at beekeeping using top bar hives.

This lecture looks at beekeeping using a frame hive.

In this lecture we introduce some recent innovations in hive design and new technologies in beekeeping.

This is a research activity to know which beekeeping organisations are present in you local area and in your country.

In this activity you will arrange to attend a meeting of your local bee club or association.

In this activity you will do some research into the most common hive types in your area.  You will use this information later in the course to choose the hive type most suited to your local conditions.

This lecture concludes section 2 of the course.

This lecture introduces section three.

This lecture gives some background on the different bee species in the world and also gives an introduction to Apis mellifera - the Western honeybee which is the focus of this course.

There are three types or castes of bees in the hive.  This lecture introduces the three types - the queen, the drone and the workers bees.

This lecture explains the concept of life cycle and explains the changes in form that an honeybee goes through in it's life.

Everything to do with beekeeping involves timing. As a beekeeper you need to understand the seasonal cycles in beekeeping and time your actions to these seasonal cycles.

In this activity you will determine the beekeeping year in your particular area.

This lecture concludes section three and looks ahead to the next section of the course.

This lecture introduces what is coming in this section.

In this lecture we look at the main components of your typical frame hive.

In this lecture you will find out about the nucleus hive and how useful the 'nuc box' is.  In fact you might receive your first bees in a nucleus hive.

In this activity you will decide, based on local research, which hive type you will choose to keep your bees in. 

This activity is for those who want to try out some carpentry skills and make a simple top bar hive.  The activity is optional depending on your interest in trying this type of hive.  You can always come back to this activity at a later point (you have lifetime access to this course!).

In this lecture we look at how to take care of your beekeeping equipment.

This lecture goes through the other basic equipment that you will need to become a beekeeper.   The attached downloadable resource gives links to some of the major international bee equipment suppliers.   

This activity is to identify bee input suppliers local to you form where you can source your beekeeping equipment.

This lecture wraps up section 4.

Welcome to section 5 where you get your hive set up and stocked.

Bees sting to defend their nest.  Certain people can be allergic to bee stings.  This lecture looks at how to keep bees safely. 

Where you choose to put your beehive is important.   In this lecture we look at the key factors in choosing a great apiary site.

In this activity you get to choose the site where you will keep your beehive.  If you don't have a site of your own you can always request permission from a local landowner for a suitable site to place your bee hive (s).

This lecture looks at hive arrangement in the apiary and also at hive stands.

In Section 4 you identified the type of hive you will use based on research into beekeeping in your area.  You will need some sort of stand for that hive whether you buy, make or improvise a stand.  In this optional activity I demonstrate how a simple hive stand is made.  In this example I make a stand for a National sized hive but I have also included links to dimensions for a stand for the Langstroth hive in the resources.   

In this activity you will purchase the beekeeping equipment that you need.  In the video linked to this lecture I unbox a National frame hive which I purchased from an Irish bee equipment supplier.

In this activity you will assemble your own bee hive (if your hive is shipped in the flat, otherwise it might already be assembled!).  The video demonstrates the assembly of a National type frame hive. 

It is now time to paint your beehive to preserve it from the rain, wind and sunshine in the years ahead.  In this video I demonstrate by painting my own recently assembled beehive.

Frame hives contain frames and foundation sheets of wax.  In this activity I demonstrate how to assemble the frames and foundation sheets that go into your frame beehive.

You have bought or made a hive stand.  You have bought and assembled a hive or you have made a top bar hive.  It is time now to set up your hive on it's stand in your chosen apiary site.

This lecture looks at the different ways to stock an empty beehive.

This activity is to research reputable suppliers of bees in your area.

In this lecture I show you how to wear your bee suit, light your smoker get ready to work with bees.

Time to get bees into that hive!  In this activity I show you how to transfer bees from a nucleus colony into your beehive.  Please share any photos or video of your hive waiting for bees/bees occupying the hive etc. on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/518461215756123

In this demonstration I show you how I catch a swarm of bees.

In part two I transfer the swarm into the top bar hive I made back in Section 4.

In this lecture we look back at what we have covered in section 5 of the course.

In this lecture we look ahead to section 6.

Understanding the principles of bee management is essential if you want to produce honey.

As we move through the year the bee colony changes with the season.  Management of bees also depends on the season.  In this lecture we look at seasonal bee management.   

It's a great idea to get into the habit of keeping colony records from the very start of your beekeeping.  This lecture introduces the topic and the links in the resources provide further information.

Now that you have bees you do need to inspect them.  This lecture discusses how to inspect a colony of bees.

In this lecture I give a demonstration on how to inspect a beehive.  I also mark the queen during the inspection.

In this demonstration I open and inspect the top bar hive.

This activity is to inspect your own beehive. 

Understanding bee health is an important aspect of successful beekeeping.  This lecture introduces the key pests and diseases that you need to watch out for.

This is a part two of the bee health, pests and disease lecture.

Bee health issues will vary from one country to the next.  This activity is to do a little bit of local research on bee health issues in your area.

If we want to achieve our goal of the maximum adult bee population during the nectar flow then preventing and controlling swarming is a key beekeeping management task. 

In this demonstration I show you how to do the nucleus method of swarm control.  This is the easiest method for beginners and only requires a spare nucleus box and spare frames. 

In this lecture I show you how to unite two colonies of bees.

You might need to feed your bees from time to time and especially when heading into winter.  This lecture looks at how to feed your bees.

In this demonstration I make up some light sugar syrup (1:1) and feed a newly hived swarm of bees using a rapid feeder.

In this activity I show you how to make a simple contact feeder of your own.

Bees get their food from nectar and pollen sources in the local environment.  This lecture looks at some major bee plants around the world. 

In this activity you will establish a calendar of bee plants flowering in your own local environment at different times of the year. 

Beekeeping is not without it's challenges and in this lecture we look at what these key challenges are. 

In this lecture we summarise what we have covered in section 6 and look ahead to section 7.

In this lecture we look at what is coming in section 7.

This lecture looks at the products produced by the bees.

At this stage of the course you have a hive with bees.  With any luck those bees are going to gather a surplus of honey.  This lecture looks at how to harvest honey from your beehive. 

You have honey harvested.  This lecture looks at how to extract the honey from the honeycomb and process it.

You have extracted your honey.  This lecture shows you how to store your extracted supers to keep them safe from pests until you need them again.

This lecture looks at what you need to do to package honey for home use or for sale.

In this practical activity you will harvest honey from your own hive.

Beeswax is another wonderful product of the bees.  This lecture looks at how to process wax from any leftover combs.

In this demonstration I extract beeswax from combs using hot water extraction with forced immersion (using a stone to weigh down the bag of wax combs).

Once we render beeswax from the comb it will still be dirty.  We need to sieve the wax to clean it before use.

If you made a top bar hive back in Section 4 now is the time to add wax to your top bars. 

In this activity we will make a simple beeswax candle.

In this activity we will make a simple furniture polish recipe using beeswax.

This lecture provides a recap of section 7 and looks ahead to section 8.

This lecture introduces section 8.

We have come a long way in this course!  Let's recap on what we have covered.

Sources of further information so that you can continue to grow your knowledge.

Well done to you!  You have made it to the end of the course.  This lecture congratulates you on your achievement.

In this course, along with frame hives, I showed you how to make a simple top bar hive (in my case made from scrap timber).  I occupied the hive with a free swarm of bees.  In this video I harvest honey from that simple top bar hive.  Maybe have your own at this stage?  Please do share photos and video in our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beginninginbees

At the end of the video I show you the honey that I harvested from the hive and as you will see it is absolutely delicious!  In the video I also show you my mistakes such as when the smoker goes out.   I want to get across the message that mistakes are ok. That is how we learn and we become better beekeepers. With beekeeping you are dealing with live insects and things will never go by the book!  We learn through experience and by overcoming problems and challenges and overtime we will become better beekeepers. The main thing is to have fun along the way!

Bonuses.