Don’t you hate how you feel when you have no idea of what you’re doing?
I do. It’s incredibly frustrating.
Before I began backyard beekeeping, I knew I would experience that feeling a lot unless I had help. I enrolled in bee school, (which was awesome!), but once my bees arrived, I had forgotten a lot of what we discussed in class. Thankfully, there are so many resources for beekeepers out there! Along with a beekeeper mentor, backyard beekeeping resources like organizations, books, websites and blogs can really save a “newbee” beekeeper.
Here are some of my favorite resources:
Organizations:
- American Beekeeping Federation
- State Beekeepers Associations (Google associations in your state. I get my information from the Virginia State Beekeepers Association and the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association.)
YouTube Channels:
Books:
- Beekeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston
- The Backyard Beekeeper by Kim Flottum
- First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith S. Delaplane
- The Beekeeper’s Bible by Richard Jones
- The Beekeeper’s Handbook by Diana Sammataro
- Natural Beekeeping by Ross Conrad
Beekeeping Publications:
Magazines and Online Magazines:
(The following magazines publish articles about beekeeping along with other homesteading topics.)
Beekeeping Websites:
- Keeping Backyard Bees
- Honey Bee Suite
- Linda’s Bees
- Planet Bee Foundation
- Honey Fingers
- Bee Serious
- Beekeeper’s Naturals
- Hive of Industry
Blogs:
(The following bloggers are beekeepers who write about beekeeping along with other homesteading topics. For each blog, I’ve highlighted my favorite article. )
- Home Ready Home~Beekeeping 101: 5 Things to Do Before Your Bees Arrive
- Tilly’s Nest~Preparing the Hives for the Winter
- Food Storage and Survival~4 Things I’ve Learned About Bee Suits
- Homestead Lady~How to Capture a Swarm of Bees
- The Rural Economist~Beekeeping on a Small Homestead
- Tennessee Homestead~3 Steps to Success with Package Bees
- Game & Garden~How to Clean Beehives After an Attack of Wax Moths
- Better Hens and Gardens~Beginning Beekeeping: Important Questions
- Sustainable Homesteading~How to Build a Bear-Proof Beehive Fence
- Lil’ Suburban Homestead~10 Rules for the Reluctant Beekeeper
- The Coastal Homestead~Getting Started with Bees
- Homestead Honey~Homestead Beekeeping: Installing a New Hive
- Montana Homesteader~Hiving Bees in a Langstroth Bee Box
- Pasture Deficit Disorder~Successful Hive Inspection
- Herbal Academy of New England~Blackberry Winter: Tips for Helping Bees
- Schneiderpeeps~Look What A Little Asking Around Can Get You
- The Coleman Homestead~Backyard Beekeeping
- Homesteading.About.com~10 Reasons to Become a Beekeeper
- The Tattooed Homestead~How We Harvest Honey: From Hive to Bottle
- Ever Growing Farm~Beekeeping Basics: Equipment
Beekeepers’ Facebook Groups:
Do you have a favorite backyard beekeeping resource?
If you have a favorite book, website, YouTube Channel, blog or whatever and it’s not on my list, please add it in the comments below. Together, we can make one fantastic list of resources for beginner beekeepers!