If you are wanting to start bee keeping, then there are a couple of considerations such as.
- Are you allergic to bee stings, if so, then perhaps beekeeping is not for you.
- Do you live in a residential area in NSW, if so, contact your local council regarding any local rules and review the NSW DPI backyard Beekeeping fact sheet.
- Not sure what type of hive to use, contact us or join a local bee club, enrol in a beginners’ beekeeping course.
- Occasionally you may need to lift and control a full super off / onto a hive to inspect the brood, this can weigh as much as 25-30 Kilograms. Ask your self can you do it without injury, consider enlisting an assistant.
- Beekeepers in NSW are required to register with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and adhere to the industry code of practice.
Our advice is.
- Read up on the basics, a good online resource can be found at Orara Valley Honey https://oraravalleyhoney.com.au/responsible-backyard-beekeeping/
- Do a beginner’s course, we have a list of local educators here Beginner Courses
- Choose your hive type and location.
- Register as a beekeeper, with the NSW DPI https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/bees/beekeeper-registration
- Purchase your equipment and bees.
- Join a local beekeeping club such as ours for peer support, https://www.beekeepers.asn.au/find-a-club
- Getting useful information is key to successful beekeeping, however caution is advised when using web searches as some overseas practices are not legal in NSW, we recommend starting with these links Online Beekeeping Sites