Beekeeping Supplies from Little Giants are available at select J&N Feed and Seed.

If you can start a garden, you can raise bees and we can help! Considering all the buzz about beekeeping right now, you might be thinking of jumping in and starting your own hive. As you would when with bringing a new animal to your farm or home, it can be tough to know whether you’ll eventually regret your decision addition or celebrate it. So with this mind, what does it take to keep bees? Before you jump into beekeeping, here are a few points to consider: the right questions to ask, the equipment you’ll need, and, finally, how to choose the right bees.

Should you keep bees?

Check your local ordinances for keeping bees to make sure there are no restrictions in your area for beekeeping. Obviously, bees should be kept away from outdoor areas frequented for outdoor activity or recreation. Also, make sure you and your family members or anyone who would be living near the bees does not have any known allergic reactions to bee stings. This issue alone is probably the deal breaker if you or a family member have any reactions to insect stings.

Why Keep Bees?

Of course, collecting honey the bees produce is the obvious goal, but there’s a little more to beekeeping than producing honey. Beekeeping is good for your garden and crops, too. They help pollinate vegetables and flowers and may help your yields.

Honey, honeybees, beeswax, and other bee-related products like propolis tincture and beeswax-based beauty products can be a great supplement to a homestead or farm income and can even form the basis of your farm’s business. Many small farmers find bees to be a rewarding and productive means of income. Beekeeping may qualify for an agricultural exemption on property taxes under Texas law. To learn more about beekeeping in Texas, go to the Texas Beekeepers Association website here.

Little Giant Beekeeping Supplies are available at J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas.