7 Tips for Running a Bee Farm
If you are thinking of running a business that will allow you to make a profit, and help the environment as well, you should think about setting up your very own bee farm. In the past few decades, the number of bee species have been in decline. This is very bad for the environment because bees spread pollen, and they help contribute to the growth of flowers worldwide. However, before you set up your bee farm, you should have a set plan. Remember that bees might get dangerous if you don’t know how to handle them. Here are some tips for running a bee farm.
Get the Necessary Permits
Before you invest any money in your bee farm, it is very important that you get the necessary permits. Remember that you will be raising and housing potentially deadly animals. They have the capability to swarm and kill people with their stings. As a precaution, you should make sure that you do your research and file the right paperwork before you start building your beehives.
Choose What Types of Bees to Raise
If you want to raise bees, you should know that there are many species of bees, and that they have different temperaments, habits, and hierarchies in their hives. If you want your bee farm to thrive, you should do your research on bees. The kind of bees that you should raise are the less aggressive ones that could also make the most honey.
Choose a Fitting Location
When it comes to setting up a bee farm, it is imperative that you choose a fitting location to raise them. Remember that bees are highly territorial creatures, and they will not hesitate to attack anyone or anything that trespasses into their territory.
When you choose a location for your beehives, it is best if you place them in secluded areas such as farmsteads. It is not a good idea to build on areas such as subdivisions or apartments because there are too many people that live in these residential areas, and they could end up disturbing the bees.
Invest in Beekeeping Equipment
Even if you are well versed in beekeeping, and know how to handle them effectively, it is always important that you wear a beekeeping suit every time you go near them. Whether it is to harvest their honey or to move them to a new location, it is important that you always wear safety gear.
Remember that bees could get aggressive very fast, and they could get into your clothes and sting you. As a precaution, it is important that you utilize protective beekeeping suits. If you can’t get a hold of the usual beekeeping suits, you could also utilize PPE suits for your beekeeping. Just make sure that you close up any areas that the bees could get into.
Practice Safety Protocols
Aside from wearing beekeeping equipment, it is important that you have safety protocols for every eventuality. While it is ok for you to move around your bee farm because you know how to handle the bees, a majority of people don’t. Someone might be passing by and think nothing of going through your bee farm. This is a mistake that may prove fatal.
If it is possible, you should put a fence around your bee farm. While it won’t really keep the bees inside your farm, it will at least keep potential trespassers from going inside. As an added feature, you should set up a sign saying that you are keeping bees, and that they proceed with caution if they pass through your area.
If you are going to move your bees, it is important that you handle them gently. Don’t try to catch them one by one. Instead, you should move the whole hive, because it contains the queen, and the other bees will go where the queen goes.
Utilize Your Honey Wisely
When it comes to running a bee farm, your main goal is to make enough honey to sell. You should know though that honey production is a painstaking process for the bees, and every drop of honey is precious. If you are going to sell your honey, you should package them in good quality honey jars. While you could store them in plastic containers, it is better if you store them in honey jars. This will lessen the chances of bacteria from settling in your honey. It is also a great container to market and sell with. When it comes to selling honey there is something aesthetically pleasing about a honey jar full of honey. It reminds you of Winnie the Pooh and his constant search for honey.
If you want to purchase the best quality honey jars, you should check out Roetell. It is one of the best glassware companies in the world. They are more than capable of selling honey jars wholesale. If you want to sell your honey in more flexible packaging, you should try out Logos Pack. They are more than capable of packing your honey in airtight plastic containers.
Take Care Of Your Bees
If you want your bee farm to thrive and last long, it is important that you take care of your bees. While the bees might seem like robust and powerful insects, they are still very vulnerable, and the slightest change could really mess up their system and the honey production process as well. When you harvest the honey, don’t try to swat away the bees, instead you should just wear a beekeeping suit, and get the honey directly.
Conclusion
If you want to run a lucrative business, and help the environment as well, you should establish a bee farm of your very own. However, before you delve into the bee business, you should do your research first. Bees could be very dangerous if you don’t know how to handle them properly. With these tips you’ll be able to set up a bee business in the most efficient and safe way possible.