Considering keeping bees? You might think that the place to get started is researching what beekeeping supplies you need, but you might be surprised to learn there is a better place to start.
We plan to add an apiary to our homestead, and Kaylee Richardson from The Honeystead has been a wealth of information as we prepare. Kaylee and her family live on a 60-acre modern-day homestead in Virginia, where they raise and grow most of their own food, and bees play an integral role in their success.
We welcome Kaylee as a guest writer here at Homesteading Family to share her knowledge of beekeeping so you can learn alongside us. Let’s begin with Kaylee’s advice on where you should start when considering becoming a beekeeper. Take it away, Kaylee!
Preparing to Become a Beekeeper
When I first started, I didn’t run straight to a “how to become a beekeeper” course. I went to the library and researched what the bees were actually doing.
Too many classes focus only on management—how many frames, when to split, how to treat. But the bees? They already know what they’re doing. They’ve known for thousands of years. We just need to stop and pay attention.
Did you know the forager bees, the ones bringing in nectar and pollen, scouting out new blooms, and communicating back to the colony with their famous waggle dance, are all female?
These worker bees run the hive. Every role, from nurse bee to guard bee to undertaker, is carried out by these incredible female workers. It’s a whole society working together with purpose, and it teaches you far more than you might expect.
So here’s my best advice: let this spring be your season of observation. Start adding herbs and flowers to your garden that benefit both pollinators and your own well-being.
Think calendula, lavender, bee balm, anise hyssop, echinacea, thyme, and yarrow—plants that will not only nourish your future colonies but also become staples in your home apothecary.
What and How to Observe
Springtime might be when the thought first buzzes into your head—maybe I should get bees. And while it’s a lovely time to dream, I think the true beginning starts with observation.
Start by noticing what’s blooming around you. What flowers are calling in the pollinators? Are the dandelions up? Are your fruit trees buzzing with activity?
Look a little closer. Are you sneezing more than usual? That tickle in your throat or stuffy nose might just be your body reacting to the changing season, and your future bees could hold the sweetest remedy.
Raw, local honey has long been cherished for easing seasonal allergies (Source), and there’s something powerful about tending bees and harvesting that honey yourself.
Take a moment to watch your garden. Is it being pollinated well? Are your squash plants producing, or are the flowers falling off with no fruit behind them? These little signals are easy to miss, but once you start noticing, you can’t unsee them.
Maybe, just maybe, these are all signs nudging you toward becoming a beekeeper.
Location, Location, Location
This is also the time to start watching your land and envisioning where you might place a hive. Bees prefer a clear, open, sunny area—ideally facing the direction of the sunrise so they can warm up and get right to work foraging.
Where on your property catches that early morning light?
Identify Your Why
I may approach beekeeping a little differently. The why behind keeping bees has always meant more to me than the how.
So what are your whys?
Mine are simple, but meaningful:
- Pollination – A fruitful garden starts with a flower.
- Beeswax – I keep bees for wax to craft salves that soothe my family’s skin.
- Honey – This golden gift supports our health and immunity. (Source)
- Propolis – Propolis provides a protective barrier (Source) that I rely on in so many ways.
- Therapy – I keep bees for the calm, for the therapy that comes in the quiet hum of the hive.
Beekeeping isn’t just about getting honey. It’s about forming a relationship with your land, with the seasons, and with the small but mighty creatures that help the world grow.
Consider Possible Limitations
Spring is also a great time to consider what type of hive fits your lifestyle. Langstroth hives are common and great for honey production, but they can be heavy to lift.
Horizontal hives, like top-bar or Layens styles, are easier on the back and often a better fit for those wanting a more natural, lower-maintenance approach. Think about your physical ability, your goals, and how you want your beekeeping to fit into your daily life.
Sourcing Bees
Now, here’s something many folks don’t realize: while spring is when most people start thinking about getting bees, it may actually be too late to find bees. Most nucleus colonies (also called nucs) are already spoken for by this time.
A nucleus colony is essentially a small, established colony with a mated queen, several frames of brood (baby bees), honey stores, and a workforce ready to expand.
They’ve got a head start and are often raised by local beekeepers, which gives them a better chance of surviving in your region. But because of that, they get reserved quickly, sometimes as early as January or February.
There’s also the option to order package bees, which are shipped through the mail and usually include a few pounds of worker bees and a caged queen who isn’t related to the bees she’s been paired with.
While convenient, I’ll be honest—packages aren’t my preferred method. The bees are stressed from travel, they need to accept a foreign queen, and their survival rate can be low, especially for beginners. It’s a rough start for both the bees and the beekeeper.
In Conclusion
While most traditional beekeeping classes will tell you to start preparing in winter, I actually believe spring is a better time for learning—for getting your eyes on the land, your hands in the soil, and your mind curious about what the bees are already doing.
Let this be your year of watching and planning.
Because by this time next year, when you’re ready to bring bees onto your land, you’ll have already laid the foundation. Your garden will be more alive. Your knowledge will be deeper, and your “why” will be clearer.
So if you’re thinking about bees, start by paying attention. Start with the flowers. Start with your why. The bees will come.
Where to Find Kaylee
You can find Kaylee on her blog, The Honeystead, over on her YouTube channel or on Instagram, where she shares the start of her dream “Beekeepers Apothecary,” videos of her homestead, the medicinal benefits of bee byproducts, and even herbal-medicinal recipes and tutorials.
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