There are two kinds of beekeepers, those who have bad backs, and those who will have bad backs. All of them love to argue.
New beekeepers need guidance, not to be discouraged. What if a beginner reads this thread? What impression will he have of this forum? Will he be encouraged to ask questions?
I started the hard way cutting colonies out of walls and trees and sometimes catching swarms. I was fortunate to have access to a professional queen breeder who was willing to spend some time with a newbie. Over time, I learned to manage bees for honey production. This implies a lot more because bees have to live through midsummer, fall, winter, spring, and then get back to late spring to make a crop of honey. I read books voraciously, subscribed to magazines and read them, learned to produce my own queens, and learned to intervene in my colonies only when it is necessary. I am working with 3 local beeginners. One is 4 years in and turning into a decent beekeeper and honey producer. One is 2 years in and still learning how to manage swarming. One just got a colony this year and is learning to build equipment.
