Grant -

My experience in dealing with nubees has been very positive.  I have started dozens in the last few years.  I start up front with my recommendations for starting.  Most accept the price tag.  I give them a shopping list with a present price tag is $416 for starting two hive.  This included personal gear and hives - bees are extra.

1) what books have you read?

I don't ask.  I give a reading list.  I have travelling copies of Taylor's "Joys of Beekeeping."  It is an excellent start, but is not a how-to book.  I do the how-to in my classes.

Then they return to wondering if I have some used equipment

I never recommend used equipment.  It is a bad idea and a bad start.  We start new, pretty, and clean.

And while we can measure "success" on different levels, I think my definition of success is finding joy in what you do and being resilient to overcoming the challenges. A little "free" honey might also be a nice treat. 

A perfect answer.  I enjoy working with nubees who buy into this.

The hardest part is dealing with the disappointment of a colony going queenless in the summer of the first season (a good reason to start two colonies) and the disappointment of having a dead colony in April.  It is hard to view this a part of beekeeping and not a lack of beekeeper prowess.

I find starting new beekeepers very rewarding.

Larry Krengel
Marengo, Illinois

By the way... here in Marengo the C. C. Miller residence, complete with a beeyard, is for sale.  It would be fun.  LK

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