bee or not to bee, that is the ques on, honey

By Terry Georgia The Surveyor

The buzz about beekeeping is growing as more and more people swarm to the aid of the ailing honeybee population. The threat to our agricultural ecosystem only increases as pollinators of all kinds rapidly lose habitat and food sources to encroaching human development. Hosting honeybee hives on your property can help sustain the bee population and stave off environmental disaster. And having a source for fresh, honey in the yard isn’t a bad perk either, but experts recommend taking a serious look at what beekeeping is really about before getting your Pooh paw stuck in the hunny pot.

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“Don’t do it like I did!” — Seasoned northern Colorado beekeeper, Lisa Boesen, warns all prospective beekeepers not to make the same mistake she did when she agreed to adopt a hive from a friend. Not really understanding the responsibility she was undertaking, she made several rookie mistakes. “Don’t do it like I did!” she urges, “beekeeping is animal husbandry, they’re not pets. It’s more like raising cows. You have to manage them. You have to make a commitment to taking care of it [the hive]. It’s a science and you have to learn it.” Boesen learned the hard way, when that first hive swarmed in a neighbor’s soffit and she had to have the swarm professionally moved to a safer spot. “I should have gotten a mentor,” she mused. Now she is a mentor herself, and president of the Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association (NCBA).

Learn the A-Bee-C’s — There is a lot to learn about bees and how they live. “There are 900 types of native bees here in Colorado,” says Boesen, “mostly we don’t see them because we’re too busy and we just don’t take the time to look.” She describes most of Colorado’s native bees as solitary, although honey bees are more social, so they live together in hives, whether that hive is inside a hollow tree or inside commercially constructed boxes designed to house colonies. Boesen says joining a beekeepers club is one of the best ways to learn, and to meet others who can help guide newbies through the joys and perils of their first years. “Stay off of You Tube ” she advises, “You don’t know how much experience they have. And what we do here in northern Colorado is different than other places, even within the state.”

Bee prepared — Berthoud native, business owner and town trustee, Tim Hardy, has been a beekeeper for more than 20 years. As past president and current vice president of NCBA, Hardy also urges a thoughtful approach toward beekeeping. is first questions for a prospective keeper are about access. “Do you have the yard space [and] food sources with in two miles for the bees?,” Hardy asks, “Does your community, or neighborhood HOA or metro district allow bees in your area?” He also recommends checking with neighbors to see if they have any concerns. “You definitely don’t want to setup next-door to someone who is deathly allergic to bees.”

In addition to recommending hiring a mentor to help with start-up, Hardy suggests looking at your budget — both money and time. NCBA estimates start-up costs around 1,2 for the bees and necessary equipment in the first year alone. A package of bees costs around 15 . If honey production is the goal, there are additional costs for equipment needed to extract and package the products. Once the hives are established and thriving, which usually takes at least two years, Hardy says it’s the time commitment that needs to be considered. “The time needed, ideally, would be to set aside about four hours a week to inspect your hives, do some reading/research on bees etc.”

Beeware — Hardy and Boesen agree that vigilance is essential. Hives need to be monitored regularly to ensure the colony is healthy. One of the parasites can kill entire colonies. “I have actually lost half or all of biggest threats to bees is the Varroa mite. An infestation of these parasites can kill entire colonies. “I have actually lost half or all of my colonies in any given summer because of Varroa mites,” says Hardy, “I only have three colonies at most, so the damage is the mites, as well as other diseases and signs of trouble keeper should create an exit strategy before ever can no longer care for them properly. plants to help replace the thousands of acres of habitat and feeding grounds that have already been lost. Provide a source of water. Grow

Boesen says it takes time and experience to be able to spot the mites, as well as other diseases and signs of trouble in the hive, such as uneven patterns in the honeycomb. Again, education and experience are key.

Let it bee — Boesen is adamant that every beekeeper should create an exit strategy before ever starting a hive. Because the colony is a living community that requires care, protection and nurturing, it shouldn’t just be abandoned. She recommends planning ahead for what you’re going to do with the hives when you can no longer care for them properly.

Bee supportive — If you ultimately decide that beekeeping is not for you, there are other ways to protect and support bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies and birds. Avoid using pesticides. Plant gardens with pollinator-attracting native plants to help replace the thousands of acres of habitat and feeding grounds that have already been lost. Provide a source of water. Grow a variety of plants that bloom in the spring, summer and fall. And don’t be so quick to delete dandelions, they’re among the first flowers to bloom in the spring, and an important source of food for bees. It takes two million flowers to make one pound of honey. Every bloom helps!

Despite the challenges, both Boesen and Hardy are enthusiastic supporters of new beekeepers in northern Colorado and they’re willing to help you and your hives thrive. Contact the Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association to find more information and sign up for classes: nocobees.org.

You can do it. You just have to beelieve in yourself!