# 002 : New to rooftop beekeeping like me? Good. Here's what you'll need.

 

“The busy bee has no time for sorrow.”

William Blake 

Let me make myself clear. The most experience I have in beekeeping is from living vicariously through the stories about my grandfather who kept twelve hives for many years. That said, I don't know much, but I do know what I need for the first year rooftop beekeeper. How? Because I asked people who know = Beekeepers who have been at if for many years. I've listened to many a podcast and watched many a video. I've taken courses. I figured I would share what I came away with.
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Take a beginners course in beekeeping. I can't stress this enough. It's amazing how much you can learn from 'real' beekeepers and it's amazing how much crap and how many mistakes you won't have to experience if you ask many questions.

 

Here is where I took my first beginning course :

http://www.honeybeesonline.com/classes.html

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Join a beekeeping club. You will 'bee' around many people who are yearning to share - that's why they are part of the club. If you are in the Chicago area there aren't many choices but there are great clubs.

 

Image from Windy City Beekeeping Page

The Windy City Beekeepers : Been around since 2007
They meet in the Logan Square area on Tuesdays from 6-8 pm.
In Beekeeping season (April-August)
You can find them here : http://www.meetup.com/The-Chicago-Beekeeping-Meetup-Group/
And here : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Windy-City-Beekeepers-Chicago/151127171626968
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The Cook-DuPage Beekeeping Association

http://cookdupagebeekeepers.com/ 

The Cook-DuPage group is great because of their mentor meetings.

Also, it's kinda cool to be told how stupid you are over a cup of bad coffee in McDonalds!
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This is a less Chicago specific Association but one you should visit if you want good information and if you start getting more serious about the art and science of beekeeping.
The Illinois State Beekeeping Association

website : http://www.ilsba.com/  
Yahoo Group : http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/illinoisstatebeekeepersassociation/

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Watch some good videos and listen to some podcasts. It's amazing how much differing opinion you will get in the podcasts, but listen, listen & listen. You will get the basics that everyone follows plus there is nothing like a beekeeping podcast to put you to sleep if you have insomnia!

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Just like I mentioned in the previous blog post : get a good basic book to learn terminology so when you talk to a mentor you can explain your situation and understand the advice they give you. Beekeepers are super-helpful because more people beekeeping means more bees to pollinate our plants and trees!

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Now that the buzziness is out of the way let's get back to equipment.

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I already mentioned (Previous Blog) that I am a Langstroth Hive type of guy.

You, might start with something else - all power to you - just make sure you talk to people who uses the particular hive you have in the location area you plan to have it.

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O.K. You have your hive picked out. Now what? What tools will you have to have?

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First and foremost : A Smoker : Fair Price is around 30 bucks.(2012)

Don't forget you will need something to put in there as fuel (twine, twigs, paper, pine needles, cotton etc) and something to light it with.

As for lighting the thing - do yourself and your fingers a favor and get a grill lighter. Pack the smoker tight and light from the bottom. If you light the top of you're smoker material you might get hot smoke and burn some bees.

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You will need a hat and veil. Fair Price is $15 for veil and $18 for a hard hat. $25 for a soft hat & veil combo the cute chick in the image is wearing. (2012)

If you're not an experienced beekeeper this is essential apparel.

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You will need a hive tool. Fair Price is $5 (prices from 2012)

You will use this for all sorts of tasks but mainly to pry apart anything that has been stuck together by the bees. Oh boy do they like to stick stuff together! They do that with propolis. What is that? Ever hear of google?  Search the term you nerd I can't explain it - I'm no poindexter!
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This one is iffy but I added it. Get some good heavy vented gloves. Fair price is $15 to $18

Why vented ... well someone told me that it helped keep your hands from sweating too much and bees don't like sweat or the associated smell that comes along with it. Oh yah - don't go to your hive if you smell bad. 

Did you hear that Ronald? Sorry but a shower once a month won't hurt you! Comm'on now!

 Here's a photo of Ronald. I keep tellin him to clean up but it's almost like he likes getting stung or something.

The reason I say this one is iffy is because you will eventually want to lose the gloves. The sooner the better. Evey beekeeper I've spoken to has told me that gloves are useful for beginners like me but they eventually become a hindrance. You want to feel what the bees are doing and the gloves will eventually get in the way. Use them until you are comfortable with your hive.

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This is super useful : A Plastic Spray Bottle: Fair Price  $1.50

This is very handy for filling with half sugar / half water solution - which is needed to spray on your bees before you install them in your hive. If you don't have one you're going to have allot of angry flying bees to deal with.
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This one is unique to rooftop beehives : A Bird Bath : Fair Price $35

You need this because bees LOVE birds!!! They like the way they sing and chirp and fly around so care-free and happy. No, no, no you big dummy - bees don't like birds - some birds eat bees for cryin out loud! You need this because you will need a water source near the hive and on a roof there is little water. If you get a bird bath it will benefit the hive because the bees won't have to travel too far for a water source to keep their hive cool in the summer - but remember bees don't like to get their feet wet! Why because they might have pollen on their knees! For cryin out loud! You know the saying : Bee's Knees ... Sheeesh! Because of this you need to find a way to create dry areas for the bees to land and drink. EASY PARCHEESEY! throw some rocks in there tall enough to break the water surface. Problem solved!
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Don't forget a Big Metal Toolbox : Fair Price $20

I use this to store my smoker fuel, lighter, hive tool and to put my smoker in after I'm done using it.

Don't forget to dump your used smoker fuel into a metal bucket half filled with water (fair price $10) before putting it in the tool box. Smoker fuel (twine, twigs, cotton, pine needles etc.) you will learn burns for hours. You don't want to leave your smoker sitting on the roof for the wind to knock over and possibly start a fire do you? Well DO YOU!!!!!??? I didn't think so!

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There you have it! The absolute essentials for a beginner like me. There is lots of other stuff you could buy and believe me some places will make you think you will need to buy a crap load more. But as far as you working on the hive is concerned this is all you need. 

As for your bees they will need tools and aids of their own but more about that in the next blog post! 

I need to pop me some corn and get my Portlandia on!!! 
Aren't Fred Armisen & Carrie Brownstein the coolest people to ever live!!!

Did I ever mention I love Portland?

I LOVE PORTLAND!!!!