David Burns - Backyard Beekeeping: Everything You Need to Know to Start Your First Hive

Copyright 2020 by Rockridge Press, Emeryville, California

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Interior Designer: John Clifford
Cover Designer: Joshua Moore
Art Producer: Tom Hood
Editor: Brian Sweeting
Production Editor: Andrew Yackira
Illustrations Kate Wong, 2020;
Photographs Girts Ragelis/Shutterstock p..

ISBN: Print 978-1-64739-514-8
eBook 978-1-64739-515-5
R0

To Jennifer, Jill, David, Karee, Seth, and Christian, our brood who made our hive into a home and who helped make our dream a reality.

CONTENTS

Our names are David and Sheri Burns and beekeeping is our love, passion, and livelihood. We have been beekeeping for over 25 years, and we enjoy helping others experience the joys of beekeeping for themselves.

Our beekeeping hobby began a bit unexpectedly. Our friend was a beekeeper and asked if we could help with a project. A large tree had fallen over and a bee colony inside it needed to be removed. David agreed, our friend suited him up, and they headed for the fallen tree, which was full of over 60,000 swarming bees. It was a beautiful afternoon and the bees were going about their normal activities, flying around near the opening in the fallen tree. Our friend informed David that if he saw him run away, he should follow him. Our friend cranked up his chainsaw and began removing the outer layer of the tree to expose the comb so they could remove the nest and place it into a nicely prepared hive . However, within minutes, the noise of the chainsaw drew every bee out of the tree to attack them. Our friend turned off the chainsaw and began running toward some underbrush. David immediately caught up, then passed him.

The work continued on this tree for several more days, and eventually they successfully moved the combhive, queen , and all. Of course, this was a rough way to start beekeeping, and we wouldnt recommend anyone begin this way. There are much calmer ways to start this hobby than cutting a hive out of a tree.

Our first year was all new to us. We were fearful of the bees and unsure of our own abilities. When we started in 1994, there were very few classes or books compared to the resources available todaywe couldnt watch YouTube videos or do our own online researchand so it took us much longer to learn the basics than it would today.

Every year we kept asking questions and experimenting until we reached a point where we felt confident in our beekeeping knowledge. Although it did not come quickly or easily, the work was very rewarding. At first, it was very challenging performing a hive inspection. After many inspections, we began understanding more about the bees and how they must be handled. We quickly learned that bees must be handled with great gentleness. The steep learning curve was well worth it when we harvested our honey for the first time. Watching the beautiful, amber-colored honey flow into our jars was so satisfying. Even observing the bees flowing in and out of the hive, tending to their work day after day, is a relaxing experience.

Beekeeping is a hobby that requires good old-fashioned persistence and endurance. There will be challenging moments when you cannot find your queen and you wonder if you even have a queen. Some inspections are so fun and enjoyable while others can be disrupted by rain or your smoker running out of fuel. Particularly in an urban or suburban setting, challenges may include limited space, navigating local regulations, and the concerns of neighbors. But the rewards greatly outweigh the challenges. These rewards include increased pollination in your neighborhoods gardens, raw honey from floral sources in your area, and the knowledge that youre supporting creatures that are essential to a healthy local ecosystem.

We love our hobby of beekeeping so much, we hope youll find the same rewards and joys in it that we do. Maybe beekeeping is something youve always wanted to do but due to a lack of confidence or time constraints youve been putting it off. We will help build your confidence and guide you through the decision-making process so that you can pursue your dream of keeping bees.

We encourage you to embrace beekeeping as a lifelong learning opportunity. Never give up. Keep learning and, most of all, enjoy it.

P repare for your life to be transformed by honeybees. Weve found that beekeeping offers many benefits in addition to honey. Not only will you find yourself out in the fresh air enjoying the beauty, sounds, and smells of nature, but beekeeping is a great way to take your mind off worries and anxieties. You may even make new friends and acquaintances as you participate in local and state beekeeping clubs.

Thats the beauty of beekeeping; you can keep your hobby small and private, or you can go big, start a business, make extra income, and finally pursue a lifelong dream. Just remember you have the freedom to make beekeeping what you want it to be, to fit your lifestyle and your schedule.