About HowToRaiseBees | Our Mission & Story

Our Mission

We believe everyone deserves access to honest, practical beekeeping education — without paying hundreds for courses or wading through outdated advice from decades-old books.

Too many beekeeping resources either oversell the hobby (making it sound easier and cheaper than it is) or gatekeep information behind expensive classes and memberships. We're here to change that.

HowToRaiseBees.com provides free, research-backed guides that tell you the truth about what beekeeping actually involves — the real costs, the realistic time commitment, and yes, the very real possibility of losing colonies despite doing everything right.

Why We're Different

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Research-Backed

We cite actual research from institutions like the Bee Informed Partnership, Auburn University, and Penn State Extension — not just folklore passed down through generations.

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Realistic About Costs

We won't tell you beekeeping costs $300 to start. The real first-year cost for most beginners is $800-1,500. We'd rather you know upfront than be surprised later.

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Honest About Challenges

Colony loss rates have hit record highs. Most new beekeepers quit within two years. We prepare you for the reality so you can beat the odds.

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Free Forever

All our guides and tools are free. We earn money through affiliate partnerships when you buy equipment — you pay the same price either way.

The Reality of Beekeeping

We believe in telling you the truth upfront:

• Beekeeping is harder than most websites suggest. The learning curve is real.
• You will probably lose colonies, especially in your first few years. It happens to everyone.
• The time commitment is significant — this isn't a "set it and forget it" hobby.
• Modern beekeeping requires active pest management. You can't just let bees "be natural."

If this sounds discouraging, good — that means we've done our job. The beekeepers who succeed are the ones who go in with realistic expectations and a willingness to learn continuously.

Who This Site Is For

HowToRaiseBees.com is designed for complete beginners who are considering beekeeping or just getting started. Our typical reader is:

A hobby homesteader or backyard gardener interested in bees
35-65 years old, often approaching or in retirement
Willing to invest time and money in doing things right
Looking for straightforward information without having to join expensive courses

If you're an experienced beekeeper, you'll probably find our content too basic. That's intentional — we're focused on giving beginners the foundation they need to succeed.

How We Make Money

We're transparent about how this site generates revenue:

Affiliate partnerships: When we recommend equipment, we often link to products on Amazon and other retailers. If you click and purchase, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn't influence our recommendations — we only suggest products we'd actually use.

What we don't do: We don't sell courses. We don't have a premium membership. We don't accept sponsored content or paid product placements. Our guides are free because we believe access to good information shouldn't be gated behind a paywall.

For full details, see our Affiliate Disclosure.