Just wanted to also mention when I got started I joined the Bee Keepers Association in my state. Call your dept. of Ag. and get to know your apiary inspector... he/she will be a great source of information for knowledge of what is around your area.
Mine showed me how to test for mites with flour. He mailed me one of his used masks.
Told me where I can find a local breeder... He'd been doing it since the 70's and knew right from the look and taste of mine that I had alfalfa honey...and plus the fact he spotted the alfalfa field across the cow pasture.
The dept. of ag. meetings here are 1x month about and it's a handful of people who show up and bring appetizers and listen to new info. about bees and products....share history...consult each other on problems they are having with their hives. It's a really great community. And there's a raffle and that's where I won my hive tool. woo hooo. They also have their own mini library that you can check out different books.
Maybe you can see what's in your area.
I've also been known to spot hives and pull into that persons yard and knock on their door and talk about beekeeping. SO FAR everyone has been really receptive. ha ha ha.
oh and at our local farmers markets... you'll find plenty of other local beekeepers. That's another way to find people with experience and some with extra hive boxes they are willing to sell or equipment they don't want any longer.... my husband was able to trade his handy man services for a capping knife, hive boxes, smoker, and a hand cranked honey extractor....and tons of veggies and fruit all summer long...and jars...among other things.
Me and my girls like to sit in the lawn off to the side of them and watch them come and go. I have mine near the road and most people don't know what they are and had no idea we had bees. I put them in the front pointing south because of the sun and also because the fields are that way and I have subdivisions butting up to my backyard.
One lady in the bee assoc. has 2 hives in her city lot and has no problems... I think she has built up bushes and flowers around them to somewhat conceal their identity.
Enjoy your new venture.
me,
g
