2025 Goals

2025 will mark my third year as a beekeeper, and I’m excited to share my journey and plans for expansion. After two years of learning through hands-on experience, I have high hopes for a larger honey crop and a growing apiary this season.

My introduction to beekeeping was a mix of curiosity and luck. As a kid, I attended a beekeeping class that piqued my interest, but like many childhood hobbies, it faded as I moved on to new things. Fast forward 20 years, while at the family farm, I noticed an old beehive my dad had set out with some comb inside. To our surprise, a swarm moved in and made it their home. These bees lived happily and unattended for about three years.

One day, while sitting on the patio, I found myself mesmerized by the steady stream of bees flying in and out of the hive. That moment reignited my curiosity—could I manage this hive and harvest honey from it? Motivated, I bought a beekeeping suit and the necessary tools, then dove into research. Armed with newfound knowledge and a bit of courage, I opened the hive for the first time.

Cracking open that box was overwhelming. The hive was a mess, and I spent over two hours trying to reorganize it to resemble what I’d seen on YouTube. Unfortunately, I think I may have opened it right after a swarm, and in the process, I likely killed the queen. The hive went queenless and eventually died out—a tough first lesson. While many might have quit after such a setback, it only fueled my determination to succeed.

In 2024, I bounced back. I successfully rescued a hive from an old excavator and purchased a NUC (a small starter hive). My goal was simple: keep the hives alive through the summer. Not only did I achieve that, but I also harvested 18 pounds of honey—a milestone that felt incredibly rewarding.

Now, as I head into 2025, I have successfully overwintered my first hive, and I’m ready to expand both my apiary and my knowledge. Here are my goals for the year:

• Grow the number of hives to five
• Attempt a hive split using the double screen board method
• Catch at least one wild swarm
• Harvest 40 pounds of honey

These goals feel ambitious but achievable. Beekeeping is an unpredictable hobby—nature has its own plans, after all. But with every challenge comes an opportunity to learn and grow. Whether I reach these goals or face new obstacles, I’m committed to continuing this fascinating journey. Here’s to a thriving apiary and an abundant honey harvest in 2025!