my first week of beekeeping vlog | first hive inspection

My very first week of beekeeping has been so magical, and I'm so excited to be expanding my backyard suburban homestead and embarking on this beekeeping journey! I cannot wait for that first taste of honey from my ladies. Long live Queen Beeatrice!
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[@meggrowsplants]

Just want to correct myself! When I say the bees are “bearding”, I really meant to say “festooning”. Bearding is when they hang outside of the hive to increase ventilation. My bad!

[@beatricewongchalermthan565]

As another Beatrice, I'm so happy you named her Queen Beatrice 👸

[@meggrowsplants]

Such a regal name 👑 may she have a long reign!

[@lexwritesthings]

Beekeeping is so addictive. It's one of the best things I ever decided to do. Excited for you! I started vertical but am now in love with horizontal hives - there are so many ways to be a beekeeper, and that's part of the fun. 😊

[@ofrecentvintage]

"Newborn baby bees" has gotta be the cutest phrase I've heard this year! What a cool adventure to embark upon. I've definitely thought about beekeeping but am not up to the added responsibility at the moment. Looking forward to virtually tagging along!

[@meggrowsplants]

Right? And seeing them all take their new babybee orientation flights was so cute too. So cool to observe! It’s definitely an added responsibility for sure. I was apprehensive about it for years because of that. But, this year is the year! And I’m sure you’ll have your year too

[@ofrecentvintage]

@@meggrowsplants Meg's Year of the Bee! 🐝 I'm super excited for you. 🫶🏾 It may be my year one day. In the meantime, I'm doubling down on making the area around my home a bonafide "pollinator corridor" (as I've dubbed it, lol) that beckons beneficials from far and wide and is friendly to wildlife in general (all things in balance tho). It was so barren when I got here and I'm so excited by every new species I document on my journey to restoring biodiversity in my little center city spot! Good practice for beekeeping one day! 🦋

[@meggrowsplants]

@@ofrecentvintage that sounds AMAZING and good for you for thinking about our precious pollinators! You’ll be up and ready to go whenever you decide it’s the right time for bees 🐝

[@tottering-by-gently]

Oh, I wish we were neighbors! I also have a bio degree, love gardening and am currently in my third year beekeeping. It is such a fun and rewarding hobby! I highly recommend joining a beekeeping club if there is one near you, I have learned so much from my club members, and at each meeting we discuss what we should be doing currently which I’ve found helpful. I also struggle with my gloves, but in my first year I tried not using them on the recommendation of my course. One of my hives was really aggressive and I got stung 8 times on my hands 😭. I’ve worn mine since but your colony looks much more peaceable. If you do want to keep using them, I would recommend getting a tighter pair, washing them and putting them on when wet so they form to your hands. Less bulky ones are easier to use. Best of luck!

[@songyuns]

Yes!!! Weekly vlogs would be so cute😍😍 Love Bee Content 🐝

[@meggrowsplants]

Would probably be every two weeks because that’s how often I’ll do inspections! But I’ll for sure make more ❤

[@songyuns]

@meggrowsplants thats 100% fine!! Whatever pace you feel like❤️

[@EvaMaria-rd4bu]

Omg Meg! I absolutely love your videos. Hope to see you more this summer

[@meggrowsplants]

You will for sure be seeing more! Thank you so much and thank you for watching (:

[@user-di2lm3kp6w]

Super fab job! I am sooooo scared to do this but you made me a BEE-liever! I'm going to try it! Best of luck with your lovely bees!

[@gallowaylights]

00:15:21 Wow, you are a master at this! Welcome to the youtube beekeeping world 😊

[@meggrowsplants]

Definitely not a master! But thank you, happy to bee a part of it 🐝

[@brenda3945]

Loved this video Meg, more like it please, so informative!

[@meggrowsplants]

Noted!! Thank you for watching (:

[@DebRoo11]

I loved this video and now I'm invested 🤭 Thank you for showing me your hive. It's very cool 😎

[@meggrowsplants]

Thank you! I’ll def post updates ❤️

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

Beekeeping is fascinating and so rewarding. You will learn something new every year. And try to catch local swarms as they are the most adapted to your environment. Good luck and happy beekeeping!

[@meggrowsplants]

I 100% would love to catch a swarm one day! It’s probably so exciting. I can’t wait to learn all I can 🐝

[@zonagardengal908]

I loved watching this video! I hadn’t really thought much about beekeeping before, but this video came up in my feed so I watched it. YOU being so new to this and soft spoken, I found it intriguing to learn about the bees 🐝 I’d love to see more beekeeping videos 🤩

[@meggrowsplants]

Aw I’m so happy to hear that!! It honestly is such an interesting hobby. I’m very excited to continue on this journey and see what it brings (hopefully honey) 🐝

[@Havefunwithart95]

Great video Meg!! I enjoy watching every single video and short u posted! I am really looking forward to seeing another bee video.

[@meggrowsplants]

Thank you so so much for watching!! 🐝

[@Havefunwithart95]

@@meggrowsplants ofc! And thank you for posting amazing videos. They make my day

[@angelaschettino1327]

So interesting. I would love to see the updates! 🐝

[@rinarose9544]

I'd love to see more of the bees! :D I'm so excited for you!

[@meggrowsplants]

I’ll def be keeping you all updated!! Thank you so much ❤️ I’m so excited too!

[@margiehislop7812]

I am so excited for you!! Thanks for sharing with us. It was so cool to see the honeycomb after only a week!!!

[@meggrowsplants]

Thank you for watching!! I was so stoked to see those two frames of fresh honeycomb! They have been WORKING these past 6 days lol

[@latebloominghippie]

💚💚💚Thank you for being you and sharing!

[@meggrowsplants]

Aww thank you for watching!! ❤️

[@rquest3059]

I've always wanted to try bee keeping, but there are black bear and fishers that travel through my yard, and I'm afraid that they would make a snack of honey and larva. Excellent video and keep us up dated. 🐝

[@meggrowsplants]

Hmmm yeah that is definitely a challenge! I’m sure there are other beekeepers out there that live in places like that and maybe they have solutions! One perk about being suburban/urban is that we don’t have to worry about too much wildlife interference. But I’m sure it’s possible for you! 🐝

[@veronicac660]

I'm a beekeeper in bear country: electric fence on a solar powered charger has been very effective

[@NicoleK25]

I really enjoy watching your harvesting shorts I was wondering if yku could do a compilation of some of them!

[@NicoleK25]

You*

[@bluelilly22222]

❤

[@donnaokane502]

Thanks Meg!

[@meggrowsplants]

❤️❤️❤️

[@haileycohen8180]

Omg I am soo excited for this new bee journey you're on they're just so incredibly fascinating! I plan on keeping bees for the first time either this year or next(gotta remove an old shed on my property that's currently in my future beehive's spot) and I'm definitely looking forward to learning with you in the meantime.

[@meggrowsplants]

Thank you!! I’m so excited for you too. You will love it. Beeyonce is a great choice for a name! I was thinking of that too but I just felt like Beeatrice fit her better idk 😂 I just felt the vibes hahaha

[@lawrenberghanson4401]

This is very timely. The community garden I am part of just received a beehive donation, and I am learning so much about how to take care of them. It is fantastic that you have chosen the foundation-less one. It fits more naturally with how the honey bees build in the wild. We have the plastic foundation one. They are not entirely fans of that one, but they are making due. I am looking forward to learning about the bee partnership together.

[@biscuitngravy]

Very exciting! Can you share what online course you are taking and the supplier you used? I know NC State has a beekeeping club that hosts classes and provide education for aspiring beekeepers.

[@meggrowsplants]

Since I am using the flow hive, I am taking flow hives online course. And I’ve joined a local bee group here in Charlotte!

[@ejvertin]

👋 Hi! Congrats on stepping into beekeeping! I’m a Flow Hive user in Greensboro, NC! A few years in myself. You’ll get the hang of it with more inspections and time. Your colony is looking good! Have you done much research into natural beekeeping vs conventional? That is what I practice on my hives in the Flow Hives. Something to look into perhaps and see what you feel fits best for you!

[@meggrowsplants]

Hi there!! Thank you so much. And yes, of course that is something that is so controversial and confusing. To treat or not to treat for varroa! Im assuming that’s what you mean? I’m sure I will learn more as I go along and get my footing. How are you liking the flow hive?

[@ejvertin]

@@meggrowsplants we’re going to be pulling honey from two of our Flow hives tomorrow and doing full inspections on the hives. If by chance you’d want to come up and join us for the experience, wanted to extend the invite! Super short notice 🙈 but still wanted to offer!

[@kigeerdink6662]

Great video, just curious what type of bees are they? they look so cute.😆

[@TexasMyTexas]

Great video! Would you mind sharing the bee course you’re taking? I’m also working on getting into the whole beehive journey. 😊

[@loveakira4ever]

Im also keeping bees but they are mason bees :)

[@anitahernandez1207]

Bee - Brave 🐝 I am not a beekeeper, but I love bees and I watch beekeeping videos. 🤓 So yes, feel free to make more videos for us. You’re living my dream. The only scary dream I’ve had about bees, is about a bear 🐻 trying to steal honey from my beehive. It’s obvious that your bees like their new home and their new beekeeper. I’m not a fan of giving bees sugar water since they should be eating some of their own honey but I guess because it’s a new brood, it would be necessary. I would probably buy some local honey for them temporarily, while they set up their combs but I haven’t done my research on that. It looks like you only have a brood box. Will you be getting the Super as well? Happy beekeeping! 🐝 🍯

[@meggrowsplants]

Thank you!! I will be adding the super on once the brood box is about 70% full. I’ll def be making more videos as I go along!

[@veronicac660]

Sugar water is less nutritious than honey, but it is also a lot safer. For a new NUC sugar water is better than buying in honey from another apiary

[@rachelt761]

There are some bees living in a tree near my house and I want to become a bee keeper so badly

[@meggrowsplants]

Perfect opportunity to!

[@zdparker22]

Where are you doing your online corse for this. I have a friend that’s a bee keeper and was gonna teach me but I know for sure I need more education on this.

[@Haritha_Haridas]

Can you teaches us the basics

[@meggrowsplants]

I’m not sure a newbee as myself is someone to learn basics from. There are a ton of beekeeper creators out there though that are more equipped to teach! Maybe one day I’ll feel comfortable teaching but right now I’m going to just stick to vlogging/documenting the journey. I also recommend an online course and joining a local beekeeping group to learn!