Keeping these industrious animals teaches a lot about yourself as a farmer. While bees are extremely boisterous and can produce mind-boggling harvests of honey, they are also prone to numerous issues ranging between wax-eating moths, temperature fluctuations, aggression, impromptu and unwanted migration to even the death of a queen.
Let it be said, however, that beekeeping is one of the most rewarding hobbies that can be had, and not just for the sweet treat that comes with it. Beekeeping teaches much about how to problem solve, how to get into a wonderful and collaborative community, and to truly appreciate the local delicacies of Southern Ontario.
If this sounds like the hobby for you, here are a few pieces that come highly recommended.
Beehives
The beehive recommended most often to beginners is a Langstroth hive due its generally intuitive design. A Langstroth hive is a vertically modular beehive, with vertically hung frames and a bottom board with an entrance to allow the bees to move in and out. The box contains the frames for both brood and honey and the inner cover and top half offer weather protection that is crucial with Southern Ontario storms.
The best part of a Langstroth hive is that the frames are built to prevent the bees from attaching comb to two individual moving pieces of the hive, thereby allowing the beekeeper to remove frames without damaging them.
Alongside a beehive, the recommended equipment includes additional wiring, a wire crimper, foundation (plastic or beeswax) and a frame board which would give you a much easier time inserting foundation into the frames.
Protective Equipment
Beekeeping protective equipment can help to alleviate the worst of the stinging associated with this hobby. However, it is important to note that the protective qualities of mesh will not keep out all of the bees and there will be some stinging involved no matter what kind of equipment is used.
When it comes to caring for bees, the amount of trouble you will have with your hive is less about the amount of protective equipment and more about the skill and care you take in contacting the bees. Some experienced beekeepers do not use any protective equipment, though I do not recommend this for beginners.
For beginners, I recommend a veil to protect the head, gloves and a bee suit.
Honey Extractor
When you finally get to the portion of the hobby that involves reaping the rewards, the honey is unfortunately not going to appear on the table alongside a cup of tea. It requires extraction, of which there are a few different pieces of equipment available that produce differing levels of success and can be either crucial or optional depending on the level of beekeeping you intend to have.
For example, some honey extractors use a hand crank, and some require a motor. Some beekeepers use a more hands on method and break up the comb with their (gloved) hands over a cheesecloth, then ring out the remaining comb to get the largest possible harvest. Different methods work for different experience levels and different hive sizes.
Other Tools
These tools are more of the miscellaneous variety and are less structurally integral but are never-the-less a highly recommended utility in order to keep your hive streamlined and relatively painless.
A hive tool (a crowbar piece of equipment that breaks apart the slides of your beehive), scraper (removes the excess wax on your hive) and uncapping scratcher (uncaps your comb) are all useful pieces of equipment that make the harvesting process much easier and limit the time spent pulling apart the hive, and thus angering the bees.
The hobby of beekeeping is a truly remarkable one. With enough time and patience, you will have yourself your own local wildflower honey on your table in no time at all.