Is it difficult?
Starting an apiary
Starting an apiary may seem like a very challenging task at first. However, if you choose to seek help from experts who will share their knowledge and skills with you, you’ll come to a completely different conclusion. Whether you want to keep bees as a hobby or as a business, whether you want a backyard apiary or an urban one, the Polish Beekeeping Company will help you realize your dreams.
Together, we’ll choose the type of hive and the right location for your apiary. We can also adapt the space you choose for your future apiary. We will introduce you to the rules and regulations regarding beekeeping. We’ll explain the behavior and habits of these insects, advise you on how to behave in the apiary, and what tools you need to equip yourself with. We’ll help you care for the well-being of your bees (inspections, treatment, or feeding) and teach you how to handle unpredictable situations (weather changes or diseases).
How to choose
the right place for an apiary
Every aspiring beekeeper has one fundamental question: where to begin the adventure with bees? First and foremost, it’s essential to acquire basic knowledge about them. You can use specialized literature and the Internet for this purpose. It’s also worthwhile to experience direct contact with bees in advance by participating our courses. Next, you need to choose the location where you’ll set up your bee colonies. It needs to be large enough to accommodate the planned number of hives.
We are happy to accompany you on a site visit, assess the suitability of the location you’ve chosen (the apiary site), and evaluate it in terms of the availability of forage and the number of bees in the area
We advise on
how to organize the area
An apiary is a unique place that needs to be properly prepared in terms of selecting appropriate nectar-producing plants and ensuring the beekeeper’s work ergonomics. We advise our course participants on how to create comfortable working conditions for both themselves and the bees.
We help with
proper hive placement
The apiary and bees should be situated in a way that doesn’t cause inconvenience to neighboring property owners. The placement of hives in the planned apiary should also consider the needs of the bee colony (protection from extreme weather conditions and potential pests, proper orientation of hive entrances).
Additionally, choosing the right hive stand is an important aspect. For an apiary with multiple hives, it is crucial to plan for ergonomic access to each hive and maintain appropriate spacing between them.
New in the offer
Your Beehive with us!
The next step in setting up an apiary
choosing the right type of hive
Another important decision when setting up an apiary is choosing a type of hive. It must be carefully selected based on the region’s climate conditions and the future beekeeper’s capabilities. If you can`t handle lifting heavy hive bodies and do not plan to have a migratory apiary, it’s worth considering a horizontal hive.
An interesting option that we promote among our students looking for economical solutions is the Warre hive (also known as the “people`s hive,” which doesn’t require an extensive beekeeping setup). In our opinion, a great choice for a small backyard apiary is the observation hive. It’s a bit more expensive but gives a novice beekeeper the opportunity to observe the bees frequently without disturbing them unnecessarily.
For those who prefer modern solutions, we can demonstrate the New Zealand flow-hive and the so-called intelligent hive, equipped with advanced monitoring of internal parameters.
At our apiary in Toporzysko, we use a wide variety of hives. This allows us to present you with many types available on the market and help you choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences. Remember that the type of hive determines the entire infrastructure related to bee colony care. Once you start with one system, switching to another can be challenging.
Purchasing bee colonies and
populating a hive
We offer the opportunity to purchase a strong, healthy bee colony or a bee nucleus. In the case of a nucleus, you`ll have the chance to observe the colony as it gains strength. However, you should be aware that the first honey harvest will only happen the following year.
What are the costs involved?
Setting up an apiary
The cost of setting up an apiary depends on many factors, such as the type of hive, the number of hives, the type of equipment and materials, and the level of assistance we provide. Each case is unique, so we provide individualized pricing estimates.
