As spring approaches and the flowers begin to bloom, local beekeepers and long-time friends, Carol Brickley and Jon Billheimer, have some tips for anyone interested in starting their own beehive. “Any encouragement we can give to people to have bees in their backyard, we do. The life of the world really depends on bees. If vegetables are not pollinated, they don’t grow, then the livestock doesn’t have food, etc.,” Carol says. “Everything we eat is affected by pollinators in one way or another.”
Over the years, the population of wild bees has decreased significantly due to pesticides, mites, and viruses. “There is a Colony Collapse Disorder happening that is killing huge portions of bees, but by the same token, the number of hobbyist hives has grown tremendously,” Jon says. The pair explained how bees are intentionally delivered to different places all over the country just to pollinate. “One of my initial concerns was how my neighbors would accept this. It’s such a misunderstood fact that bees are harmful to people. If they sting you, they die. They just want to pollinate, and they really do help the gardens and plants in the area. The honeybees will go up to 5 miles a day to get pollen,” Carol explained.
Starting a hive is an initial investment of around $500, and Carol and Jon both agree that a mentor makes all the difference. “Get a mentor for sure...” Carol passionately exclaimed. “You can find someone random, or you can take a class through the Northern Colorado Beekeeper’s Association, and they will assign you one.”
Two seasons are particularly busy for beekeepers - the spring and fall. In the spring, bees are starting to become active and reproduce. They need extra food since they’ve used up all their winter supply. In the fall, the hive must prepare to close up for the winter. “One of the advantages of having bees as a pet is that you can leave and don’t have to hire a pet sitter,” Carol laughed, explaining the self-sufficiency of the hive for the majority of the year. “I like to check on my hive once a week, especially at the beginning of the summer to make sure it’s doing well, but I don’t open it if I don’t have to,” Jon says.
You’ll need this equipment to get started:
● A hive which consists of boxes known as supers and deeps, as well as a stand and baseboard
● Protective clothing including a suit, long gloves, and a hood or veil (Pro-Tip: Clothing must be white and mostly cotton because bees react to dark colors and are picky about their fabrics)
● A hive tool (think crowbar) for prying things apart and scraping honey
● A brush to lightly brush the bees off of things
● A smoker with bellows
All supplies can be purchased through the Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association at a discount or Copoco’s Honey in Fort Collins. You can also buy a beginner's beekeeping kit on Amazon. “If you’re interested in starting a hive, just do it,” Carol and Jon agreed. With the resources available through the Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association, it’s easy to get started.
If you have a swarm on your property, call the swarm hotline for free removal: 970.658.4949.
"The life of the world really depends on bees." -Carol Brickley
"It’s such a misunderstood fact that bees are harmful to people. They just want to pollinate and they really do help the gardens and plants in the area." -Carol Brickley
