5 Reasons Autumn is When to Start the Beekeeping Process

A beekeeper explains the Beepods System to some visitors from the UK at the Milwaukee Urban Ecology Center.

Beekeeping is something that starts during the spring and continues through summer then ends in fall, right?

WRONG!

Beekeeping is a continuous process and cycles every year through all the seasons no matter where the hive is located.  Beekeeping is working withe a living animal and needs to be planned for, just like having a puppy or a kitten.  There is a learning curve, equipment, and significant planning that needs to be accounted for.  This is the first post in a series that will help to break down as many items as possible needed to get ready for bees when the illusive spring finally arrives next year.  Each of the following posts will be expanded upon over the coming weeks.

Here are the 5 reasons why NOW is the time to begin planning for spring installation:

1. Education

Late Fall and Winter seasons are the best time to learn what is necessary to have a successful honeybee colony at home.  The beekeepers in the area have time to set up classes, discuss how to’s, tips and tricks and there is limited urgency in having to learn quickly as there is an entire season to digest everything.  Also, if there are specific rules in your community to become certified, now you have time.

2. Permitting/Knowing the Rules

It is always good to check the local ordinance to make sure that beekeeping is supported.  Many communities have some set of rules around beekeeping and if they are not for beekeeping, mostly it is based on misinformation and officials are now aware of the desperate need to support beekeeping.  So time to use all that new knowledge and help community leaders understand why siting a honeybee colony at home is the right idea.  It even gives time to notify and work with neighbors to be sure everyone is on the same page. This leads into planning the system site and surrounding areas.

3. Siting the hive and setting up the location

Beehive site planning can take some thought.  At Beepods, customers are helped with siting and setting up the immediate location during conversations with a Beepods System Expert. Topics, like seasonal plants, water, and even setting up the yard to be a beautiful, functional space is important to consider, especially depending on what beekeeping system is installed and who will be maintaining it.

4. Purchasing System Equipment in fall is useful for planning

Every beehive is different in some way shape or form.  At Beepods, the idea is to talk about systems rather than components.  The hive is one piece of the system, albeit an important one, but only a piece of it.  Systems are important to consider for the sake of the beekeeper and the bees.  Every should be designed to serve a purpose.  The Beepods Beekeeping System is designed for the bees, first and foremost.  Other design choices were made to promote beekeeping ease of use, education and aesthetics, but it was designed to be the best possible home for the bees.  This leads to the final point we will make in this post.

5.  Purchasing bees should be done in fall to guarantee that batteries are included

Without bees, there is no reason to purchase a beekeeping system.  There are various ways to obtain bees, but the easiest way is to purchase bees during the off season from a bee distributor.  At Beepods, batteries tend to be a part of the initial system.  Yet, for those who are far away from Milwaukee, a Beepods System Expert can work to connect new beekeepers with a local distributor or breeder of bees.  Bee purchases should be done sooner rather than later as bees can be the limiting factor in getting started because, guess what, the population is shrinking year after year.  So order them now.

Overall, beekeeping takes some time and planning, but it is also one of the most rewarding hobbies.  If there is a garden nearby, expect significantly higher yields.  If there is a school nearby, the kids will definitely want to see the bees.  If it’s just something to watch as it sits on the deck behind the house, it’s been described as the new version of the fish tank.

At Beepods, we are here to help.  So just get in touch and we can help.  Call us at the above number, or email us at Sales@Beepods.com.

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Brad James

Brad James is Beepods CEO. He covers the business of beekeeping and implementation of beekeeping systems from every angle -- as well as occasional other topics. Before joining Beepods, Brad has helped many startups get off the ground through implementing organizational strategy that leverages current personnel and implementing tried and true business processes that promote business growth and leadership development. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @BJJames23.

Latest posts by Brad James (see all)

• Where does pollinator week come from? A brief History of Pollinator Week and its impact on supporting pollinators - June 17, 2019
• Honey Bee Breeds and Their Attributes - March 2, 2018
• My 3-Year-Old Daughter Loves Bees - December 5, 2017