So you want to be a beekeeper?
When people go to the Minnesota State Fair, it's not unusual for a planned stop to be a visit to the animal barns. Cows, pigs and sheep are some fan favorites, but what about bees?
In the Agriculture Horticulture building at the Minnesota State Fair, a small swarm of beekeepers gather daily to talk about one of their passions. Nicole Coleman, who keeps hives of bees in both Saint Paul and Lino Lakes, was one of those beekeepers. She said she started as a beekeeper 11 years ago and credits seeing the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" as the inspiration.
"There's a beekeeper on there and she was kind of a badass, so I was like 'I want to be one of those, I want to do that when I get older,' Coleman said with a laugh.
Her advice for aspiring beekeepers is to take a class on beekeeping and then find a mentor. Find one or two people you're comfortable talking with who approach beekeeping in a way that connects with you.
"Everyone will have a different way how they do it and you'll grow into the way you're going to do it but you need a guide the first couple of years," said Coleman. "You just gotta find your hive!"
The University of Minnesota does offer a variety of classes throughout the year. Find more information here.
There are also a variety of local classes, easily found with an online search.
Coleman emphasized the importance of doing all your research before setting up your hives. Different cities have different policies regarding beekeeping.
For example, in Saint Paul, a homeowner must have a fenced yard or a flywall barrier and need to post a sign about the presence of bees. In Minneapolis, beekeepers need a permit from Minneapolis Animal Care and Control.
Then all you have to do is set up a hive for your bees, kick back and enjoy the fresh honey, right?
Not quite, Coleman said.
"Nature does take care of itself," she noted on a hot Monday morning at the fair. "But then it will also take care of itself and fly away."
You can "Talk to a Beekeeper" from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m. at the Agriculture Horticulture Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds every day through the end of the fair. On Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 1 p.m., the University of Minnesota Bee Lab will place 10,000 bees on the faces of volunteers to mark the 25th year of the Bee Beard Demonstration.
You can also check out what the inside of a bee hive looks like, how to make a beeswax candle and more. Find a list of the activities at the Agriculture Horticulture Building here.
