First Rule of Beekeeping

There is so much advice out there for beekeepers. One of the great things I’ve found so far is that people who are into bees and beekeeping are usually pretty nice folks, and they’re always more than willing to talk about bees for pretty much as long as you are willing to listen.

And it’s fun to talk with other beekeepers and compare notes. Seasoned beekeepers always seem pleased to see newcomers. It’s so important to have someone to ask for help figuring out why your bees are doing something strange, and to help you not panic when things don’t go according to the book.

In fact, some advice that I got after learning about the science of bees, was to find a mentor and join a beekeeping club. But right after that advice, there was another that has actually turned out to be more important than I thought at first. It was this:

Be careful about who you ask for advice and whose advice you listen to.

What they meant was basically this: When you ask someone for help or advice and they tell you, without asking you for any information first, that there is only one way to do beekeeping and it is without a doubt their way – it’s ok to think twice about taking their advice.

After all, the practice of beekeeping is local and very variable. It all depends on where you are. It depends on what your goals are, what’s in the physical environment around you, when plants bloom in your area, how much rain you get, if there’s a drought, nearby agriculture, predators and pests – we all know the list of variables is long and the list of questions is long too.

So, this one piece of advice that has stuck with me is constantly reminding me to be present with my beekeeping experience. It’s a reminder that I’m responsible for getting to know my bees, knowing what’s going on out in the bee yard, and exploring the options that are right for me as I go forward.

This little piece of advice wasn’t just a warning to avoid a certain type of know-it-all-beekeeper. But it has actually helped me make this experience absolutely and wholeheartedly my own.
I’m more aware and more present in my own backyard. I take the time to stop and observe. I question things more. I’m proud of knowing what I know and of how much I still don’t know. And, I listen very carefully when I ask for advice.
When something doesn’t make sense, doesn’t have sound reasoning behind it, and doesn’t consider my unique situation – I always remember that it’s ok to move on.