Here's a quick guide to finding your local beekeeper's association. They can help you remove bee swarms from your property and help educate you about bees!
I recently had someone ask me for help with finding her a few local beekeepers in her area. She wanted a source for local honey but was also interested in tending bees in her own backyard. She just didn’t know where to begin with the equipment, climate, local laws and everything else!
Local Beekeeping Association
If you have found a swarm or need other time-sensitive help, find your local beekeepers!
The best way to find your local beekeepers is to get online, visit your favorite search engine and type in your zip code, county name, or city name and the phrase “beekeepers association” into the search.
That search should guide you to a group of people who are enthusiastic and willing to help you, and who live in your neck of the woods! That was how I found the beekeepers association in Charlottesville, Virginia years ago, when I first decided to learn all about bees and honey.
Most beekeepers associations will periodically offer classes that give you information about bees, hives, their maintenance, and all sorts of beekeeping knowledge. I learned so much more face to face with the people who had real hands-on experience than I had in the time researching alone on the internet! Not only is it priceless to have a mentor who can come and look at your hives with you, but the knowledge about tending bees that is specific to your area is absolutely invaluable. For example, do you know what is blooming and when? What are the native predators and threats to your hives?
Many beekeeper associations also work cooperatively to purchase the larger, more expensive supplies like honey extractors that the members can take turns using. Some also go in together to order their bees and equipment to save on shipping and convenience fees.
I just want honey, not bees!
Maybe you don’t want to keep your own bees, but you want to reach out to your local beekeepers so that you can find a local honey source. I found a website called “Local Honey Source,” but it needs a bit more information added. Maybe you can help?
I also asked a few friends about how they found their local beekeepers, and here’s what they said:
Carol J. Alexander (author of Homestead Cooking with Carol – Bountiful make-ahead Meals) suggested that you could reach out to your County Extension office or visit your farmers market.
Erica Mueller of MomPrepares.com said that they also found their supplier at the farmer’s market, and also advised “You can also try beekeeping supply companies. I know we have Dadant here in town and the people who work there know the local beekeepers.” She has a post called, “Keeping Bees: A Honey of a Hobby.”
Angi Schneider of SchneiderPeeps.com is really tapped into her bee community – her son is a beekeeper who does bee removals! She says, “The vast majority of my son’s business comes from either word of mouth or our county extension office. Occasionally, from the feed store.”
Kelly Bisciotti (MusingsofaModernHippie.com) did a google search for local beekeepers and came upon her local beekeeper’s association website, as I suggested above. See? It works!
Homestead Lady has a post called “How to Prepare for Beekeeping” if you are ready to start making equipment lists and jumping on board with backyard hives!
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Posted In Ask A Pixie, Bees, Blog, NC
Tagged: asheville, Ask A Pixie!, bee city usa, beekeeping, bees, farm market, honey, links, local, networking
Amber Shehan
Hi! I'm Amber Pixie, and this is my site. Enjoy the recipes, information, posts, and please feel free to message me if you have questions!
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I may have a developi honey hive in my bird box but would like bee keepers opinion i would glady give to a genuine bee keeper with the understanding that the hive has the chance to develop before removing i do not have any fear of honey bees when not disturbed they generally dont sting anyone interested please message me thank you
Good luck to you! If you haven’t yet, you might want to do a google search for “local beekeeper” and your zip code to find someone to get the swarm.
I have bees make a hive in my trees stump. They are from a neighbours hive and I would like them to return them to it.
Hi Claire! Have you checked with your neighbor to see if they can come and get the swarm? They might be able to give it a new hive and it’s a win-win for everyone!
This is John Bethel on Marco Island Florida. I have a honey Bee nest, at least 100 bees, under an overhang of my house. During recent remodel extended exterior stucco wall to the ground for 2 foot overhang and two feet high. Bees dug under wall and are now a danger to our little dog.
I would like to save the bees and remove them. Any ideas how to find a bee keeper.
Do a google search for your zip code and the phrase “beekeepers association” – for example, I found these folks who might be able to help! https://www.yellowpages.com/marco-island-fl/beekeepers
Let’s love bees
I live in Riverhead. I have bees living under my front stoop and they are now entering my basement. Is there a local apiarist who can help remediate this problem? I would really prefer to relocate the hive as opposed to killing it.
Robert, just do a google search for your zip code and the phrase “beekeeper association” to find folks near you who can help! Good luck!
Soo, excited to be entering into this new beekeeping world! I grew up with a neighbor who has several beehives, and we had a hive that lived in a big oak tree! I shall never forget the sound of the humming oh, and the beautiful flowers my dad grew as a next door neighbor just made life beautiful! I love to BEE, A BEEKEEPER!
Hurray! I hope to get some hives set up soon – something’s gotten in my way doing it every year! 🙂
I have detected a very active swam of either bees or other insects entering into my wall cavity. I can see the entry point . And can hear constantly their clicking sound .
Now if they are bees I don’t them killed by a pest control company.
Hi,
I live in Pasadena, Ca and recently have noticed bees near my front door usually at night so I assume they are sleeping or resting. I encourage neighbors, friends and family to not bother them – usually they are gone by the morning. This morning several bees were found scattered around dead. This is truly a tragedy because bees are essential to our environment. Can anyone tell me why this is happening?
Bees in the garden bin