Urban Beekeeping is all the rage for those green-minded nature lovers amongst us. It's even growing in popularity with those who typically don't care much for sustainability. There's something about Urban Beekeeping that lures people into it every year. The idea of peacefully tending to your Bees draws many a novice to Beekeeping. Watching them fly in and out as they busily harvest pollen and nectar, while you sit sipping on a cup of tea with Honey made by those very same bees.
Idyllic isn't it.
You would be forgiven for seriously thinking about getting a hive. The Bee Industry has put in a considerable amount of effort into getting people to believe it's that easy. And don't those Instagram "influencers" and "foodies" make it all look so picturesque when they use their friend's Hive as a talking point.
You can be forgiven for thinking it was that easy or that idyllic. And to a certain extent, it is. Many Beekeepers will be happy to tell you that it is not actually that easy. In fact, most Beekeepers were guilty of thinking Beekeeping was as easy as it seemed when they first started. We include ourselves in that statement.
Beekeeping is far more than just collecting Honey and watching the girls work away. The trendiest form of Beekeeping, Urban Beekeeping, has its own unique challenges that could overwhelm even the most avid Beekeeping novice.
So here it is, Urban Bee Keeping Expectations vs Reality.
Time.
Expectation.
We all wish there were more hours in a day. The same goes for Beekeeping.
We might think to ourselves, that just like any hobby, there will be a bit of a time commitment to Beekeeping. Maybe a few hours here and there. An hour or two on the weekends, with perhaps a weekend once every 4 or 5 weeks. Not too bad. Especially considering the pay off of delicious Honey. At the end of the day, the bees kind of take care of themselves, don't they?
Reality.
You can never underestimate how much time Keeping Bees takes. Everything takes longer than you expect. This is because you are trying to deal gently with tiny little precious creatures while wearing what feels like a spacesuit. The other reason Beekeeping takes so much time is due to the nature of the bees themselves.
They live in closed boxes, which means that we can only see what's happening on the outside. If a hive becomes Honey bound, or has a pest infestation or is struggling for food, we typically can't tell until we open the Hive. This means that your plans for whatever you were doing that day, have probably gone out the window.
"That's okay.." you reason. "Just push it back to the next inspection".
Bees don't wait. When they need your attention, they need it then. If they are about to swarm, you have to do swarm control immediately. If you have a laying worker, you have to deal with that quickly. If they are going hungry, you have to deal with that promptly.
On top of just reacting to the Bees, we also have all the maintenance work of hive parts, inspection records to complete, mandated training and pest inspections. We haven't even gotten to the Honey yet!
The worst part is, it doesn't matter if you have one hive or one thousand. You have to do the same tasks, and still work full time and look after your family.
But don't let that scare you. Ask a fellow Beekeeper for help. Organise yourself, keep your equipment and gear maintained. Try to organise your schedule to take care of unexpected events, and most importantly, try to get ahead. Beekeeping is a great way to spend time. It just needs more than you initially thought.
If you are strapped for cash and are hoping having bees will save you money on honey, you better eat a lot of honey. More likely than not, you will find yourself constantly having to buy more items for the hive.
Expense.
Expectation.
Surely Beekeeping is not that expensive. A hive is made up of some painted timber, and surely you can get most of the tools pretty cheap on eBay. Plus, whatever expense you incur is more than compensated by the loads of Honey you get. A small price to pay for a "lifetime" supply of delicious Honey.
Reality.
Many Beekeepers will admit that their hobby is not a cheap one. You can do things more economically, but frequently this requires that you have a lot of expensive machinery to make your own equipment. Plus, when was the last time you saw a Beekeeping supply store in your local shopping strip or mall. This means that most equipment has to be picked up from a fare distance or shipped, which adds to the cost.
Then we have the Hives themselves. Commercial Beekeepers can put a Hive together for about $400, and that's not including labour. They can get this price thanks to their size and order quantities. Hobbyists tend to have to pay more. They want to purchase from a store which cost money to rent and staff, and these stores are not too common.
If you're looking to get your first Hive, expect to layout about $1000 upfront for everything you need to start. That's your protective gear and the Bees. And that is probably a low price. If you like one of those "fancy" Flow-hives, expect to fork out more. They start at around $1600 for the full system. You will still need to buy your bees after that. A good stock from a reputable Keeper is about $300 for a Nuc. The good news is, you can figure out little cost-saving techniques along the way, but if you were hoping all the "free" Honey would compensate for the expense.....well. For the cost of setting up one Hive and caring for it, you could probably buy Honey for the rest of your life.
So how do Beekeepers make money then? The simple answer, quantity and diversification.
Bee hives can be placed almost anywhere
Space.
Expectation.
You might be thinking that you don't need a lot of space to keep Bees. The Hives are only small and stack vertically so any old spot will do.
Reality.
Well, that one is true. Bees don't need a lot of space. They are creative and figure out their environment very quickly. They need a clear flight path to make their way in and out of the Hive.
Some things should be taken into consideration when it comes to space.
For example, is the location easily accessible, and can you work in it? This tends to be the biggest hurdle to Urban BeeKeeping. There are plenty of good spots for a Hive, but not many that are good for the Beekeeper too. You will need space to move around freely and store equipment until you need it.
Your best hope of getting Beekeeper training is to either join a club or find a veteran Beekeeper to show you the ropes.
Training.
Expectation.
How hard could Beekeeping be? These little creatures have been looking after themselves without us for thousands of years. We just need to know the basics. Maybe one of those local community Beekeeping courses.
Reality.
To a certain extent, the training can be as simple as going to the local community centre and doing a beginners Beekeeping workshop. You will learn most of the basics of the practice and will have the opportunity to meet others who are just starting out as well as experienced Keepers. The trouble starts when you wish to expand your knowledge. Perhaps you want to upskill, develop commercial-style practises or start producing your own stock. These types of courses are few and far between. If you do find some that you can jump into, they may cost a lot or require that you travel a great distance to attend. If you want to do a recognised course, one that gives you a certificate which allows you to get a job as a Beekeeper, well, they almost don't exist anymore.
The training is there, it's just hard to find and can be expensive. Most training will come informally from other Beekeepers who have more experience. Our advice, find a veteran Keeper and stick with them.
Keeping records and tracking your Hives health is a big part of Beekeeping. As a community we all rely on this data to help us protect our Beehives.
Rules.
Expectation.
There can't be that many rules around Beekeeping. At the end of the day, Bees are essential and need as much help from us as possible. The government should deregulate it and make it as easy as possible for anyone to become a Beekeeper.
Reality
Bees are critical! It's for that reason that we must have strict rules about how and why we operate as Beekeepers. Most governments require that you register as a Beekeeper and undergo at least some training. They may even need you to have a membership with a club. In Victoria, Australia, Beekeepers are expected to complete Biosecurity training once a year because of how secure our stock is. On top of that, almost all governments require a steady record and inspection regime and may well have the powers to audit your operation. These rules apply to everyone, whether you have one Hive or thousands.
But why the strict rules? Why does your one Hive have to collect and report all that data? It's just one Hive.
Bee's are so vital to not only our agricultural economy and way of life but for our whole environment too. Infected Bee's from one hive can travel great distances and infect other Hives. And unlike humans, who can be quarantined, Bee's can't be stopped from flying. That means they will eventually affect other Bee stocks, potentially destroying the industry and devastating fauna's reproductive cycles. This would be horrific for everyone, not just Beekeepers. We need these rules, and a responsible Beekeeper will do everything to make sure they understand them, that they know and use Best Practise, and will help others be compliant too.
Epipens are designed to stop an anaphylactic event. If you are allergic to Bee stings, you should always have one near by.
Stings.
Expectation.
It can't be that bad. Apparently, it feels like getting a flu shot. Besides, you'll be in a suit anyway so that should stop them from reaching you.
Reality.
Stings will happen. Just accept it. And they won't necessarily happen because of your Beekeeping. Once you become a Beekeeper, it's as if you become a magnet to them. You'll get stung while working on them, mowing the lawn or just walking in the street.
But not really…..
In reality, you're probably just paying more attention to them then you used to. But stings will happen when you handle them, and Bee suits don't provide complete protection. The good news is that after your first few, they don't hurt as much. It does start to feel more like getting a flu shot. But at least you know a flu shot is coming and you get a lollipop afterwards.
You would hope that before getting into Beekeeping, you would know if you are allergic or not. If you are allergic, you should not get involved until you have spoken to your Doctor. That doesn't mean you can't become a Keeper, you just need to make sure you know what you are doing. And just to reassure you, there are many Beekeepers out there that are allergic. They just have to use more caution than others would have.
When you do get that first sting, move somewhere that is safe enough for you to remove your suit. Then, remove the sting, get an icepack into it and wait an hour with a friend. If you feel light-headed, dizzy, flushed, start to rash up or have any difficulty breathing, call an ambulance immediately. Do not hesitate. They will give you medication that will help you calm down and stop anaphylaxis if it does occur.
It is only a small percentage of the population that may go through that reaction, but until you know, it is best to only suit up when there is a friend at hand to help if an emergency were to occur.
Honey
There is nothing better than fresh Honey!
Expectation.
Harvest day. Time to reap the rewards of all the hard work. Pull that comb and get that delicious fresh Honey all of your own. You can just taste it!
Reality.
This is one of the best parts of being a Beekeeper. The amazing Honey. And it never tastes as good as it does when it comes straight out of the Hive. It can be a tough, long, messy day, but it will all be worth it when you taste that Honey.
Just one word of advice. If you have more than one Hive, consider getting mechanical extractors and a few filter buckets. Hand spinning or crushing honeycomb from one Hive is doable. More than that and you will start cursing the Bee's very quickly. And always remember, just because there is Honey in the Hive, does not mean it's for you. Always make sure your Bees are cared for first. We get the excess, and sometimes there just isn't enough for us.
You could just sign up to UBPA’s Bee Host Program.
The solution.
This article is not meant to scare you off from Beekeeping. Urban Bee Project Australia is set up to encourage people to think about Beekeeping and to get involved. But we also know how easy it is to get caught up in the hype of the latest thing.
Beekeeping is not a temporary hobby. It is a commitment. It’s a great, fulling and joyful commitment. We just want people to make informed decisions, so they know what they are getting themselves into. If you've read this blog and felt that nothing we pointed out concerns you too much, great! Go and learn, get a Hive and join the Beekeeping community.
But if you have read this and are having second thoughts, we have a solution for you.
Why not try the Bee Host Program run by Urban Bee Project Australia?
This will allow you to get comfortable with the concept without committing yourself to it. To learn more about it, check out our Bee Host Blog. There you will find all the details. And if you are interested, send us an inquiry through our website, and we will contact you with the answers to any questions you have.
Until then, go check out our other blogs and make sure to keep up with us on social media.
And go make friends with a Bee, maybe go for a walk with it, everyone likes to go for a stroll.