Learn Beekeeping with PerfectBee Colony

Go from curiosity to confidentally installing your beehives....and beyond!

Colony is a unique, low-cost and highly popular way to learn, start and enjoy beekeeping. Since 2015, PerfectBee has helped thousands start beekeeping. Why not you?
Join Now
Learn More

No Contracts. Cancel Anytime.

Learn More

How Colony Helps You Start and Enjoy Beekeeping

Colony has helped so many beekeepeers start and be successful in beekeeping by recognizing what is important to beekeepers.
  • 1. Learn Beekeeping with Academy
    PerfectBee Academy is our extensive beekeeping syllabus, featuring three rich courses to build your knowledge. Each course has three structured sections and, all told, Academy includes almost 100 detailed lessons.
  • 2. Challenge Yourself with Tests
    Each section in Academy has a challenging test. Pass all three in a course and we'll send you a beautiful, personalized .pdf certificate to celebrate your success! That's three certificates in all.
  • 3. Interact with Experienced Beekeepers
    Our PerfectBee Ambassadors collectively bring decades of beekeeping experiences to Colony members, via the forum and Colony Cluster.
  • 4. Discuss in the Colony Forum
    All beekeepers love to discuss their bees and their beekeeping. That's why our super friendly and helpful Colony Forum is such an enjoyable and safe online hangout for all Colony members.
  • 5. Ask Your Questions at Cluster Webinars
    From Febuary to October, our PerfectBee Ambassadors hop online for our Colony Cluster Q&A event. A great chance to ask your questions in real-time. And it's a ton of fun!
  • 6. Save Money At the PerfectBee Store
    Annual Colony members receive a 5R% discount on ALL products in the PerfectBee Beekeeping Store...even those already on sale!
  • It's Your Colony, Personalized...
    Colony members are real people - and we want to help YOU in your beekeeping. On signing up for Colony we offer you an (optional) call, to discuss your beekeeping plans and help you get the most out of your beekeeping. You also have access to a personlized dashboard, displaying your Academy progreess.

Academy Beekeeping Syllabus

Our detailed and easy-to-absorb Academy Syllabus includes three great courses. Building your knowledge step-by-step, you will learn about the amazing honeybee, how to choose and install your beehives and, most important, the quest for healthy hives. Check out the lessons included.
Course 1: Learn About Bees
A core principle of Academy is that the successful beekeeper has a never-ending curiosity and fascination with the incredible honeybee. Our first course is all about the bee, from the eye-opening science, their role in nature, their behaviors as individual bees, the extraordinary power of the colony and so much more.
1.1 The Science of Bees
Why Bees Rock!
The Incredible Diversity of Bees
The Anatomy of Bees
A Deeper Look at Bee Anatomy
Honeybee Genetics
How Honeybees Reproduce
The Honeybee Life Cycle
The Process of Pollination
The Secrets of Honeycomb
How Bees Use Pheromones
Why Bees Can’t Fly?
The Common Races of Honey Bees
1.2 The Life of Bees
Inside and Out of the Beehive
The Role of the Drone Bee
The Role of the Queen Bee
The Role of the Worker Bee
How Bees Sense and React
Why and How Bees Forage
How Do Bees Make Honey?
Sticking with Propolis
Understanding The Honey Flow
Hive Temperature & Moisture
Fat Bees and the Winter Cluster
Why and How Bees Swarm
1.3 About Beekeeping
Philosophy of Natural Beekeeping
Beekeeping with Kids
The Growth of Urban Beekeeping
Understanding Bee Stings
Beekeeping Clubs and Mentors
Beekeeping and the Neighbors
Beekeeping Books
Why Beekeeping Matters
Hidden Benefits of Beekeeping
Responsible Beekeeping
Course 2: Your Beehive
In this heavily practical course, we introduce you to the types of beehives in common use today and how they might best suit your specific needs. We cover tools, accessories, clothing and much more. Then we discover that great moment when you obtain and install your first bees!
1.1 The Science of Bees
A Practical Guide To Starting Beekeeping
What Bees Need
What Beekeepers Need
Introduction To Types Of Beehives
A Detailed Look At The Langstroth Hive
A Detailed Look At The Top Bar Hive
A Detailed Look At The Warre Hive
A Detailed Look At Flow Hive Beehive
Foundation Or Foundationless Beekeeping?
The Practicalities Of Setting Up A Beehive
1.2 The Life of Bees
Beekeeping With A Smoker
Using Feeders With Your Hive
Tools For Beekeepers To Consider
Beekeeping Protective Clothing Overview

Beekeeping And Technology

1.3 About Beekeeping
Questions The New Beekeeper Should Answer
Preparing And Installing Your Beehive
An Overview Of Obtaining Bees For A Beehive
Obtaining And Installing A Package Of Honeybees
Obtaining And Installing A Honeybee Nucleus Colony
Capturing and Installing A Swarm Of Bees
Practical Guidance For The New Beekeeper
Contrarian Positions for New Beekeepers to Consider
Involving Family And Friends In Beekeeping
An Introduction To The Brood Nest
An Introduction To Feeding Honeybees
An Introduction To The Honeybee Hive Inspection
Tracking Beehive Progress And Keeping Records
Beekeeping Advocacy
Beekeeping Myths For The New Beekeeper To Question
Course 3: A Healthy Beehive
nstalling your first hives is so much fun…but now the learning begins! Our bees are wonderful at maintaining a healthy hive. But they face a wide range of threats. In our final course, we look at these threats and how we, as beekeepers, can help our bees. We then look at the important topic of the hive inspection, offering very practical advice on what to consider. And finally, we take stock of the magical rewards we receive – well beyond “just” the honey – from our beekeeping passion!
1.1 The Science of Bees
A Practical Guide To A Thriving Colony
An Overview Of The Main Threats To Bees
The Threat Of Robbing
An Introduction To Colony Collapse Disorder
Small Hive Beetle And Honeybees
The Lifecycle and Dangers of Wax Moths
From Tiny Mice To Big Bears
The Threat Of American And European Foulbrood
An Introduction To Nosema And Chalkbrood
An Introduction To Tracheal Mites
The Threat Of Varroa Mites: Part 1
The Threat Of Varroa Mites: Part 2
1.2 The Life of Bees
The Big Issues To Check At The Hive Inspection
Learning From Deadout Inspections
Queenlessness In Your Beehive
Why And When To Consider Requeening
Recognizing And Avoiding Swarms
What is Bearding in Honeybees?
Inspecting And Understanding The Brood Pattern
An Introduction To Cross Comb
Splitting A Hive of Bees
An Introduction To Queen Rearing: Part 1
An Introduction To Queen Rearing: Part 2
An Introduction To Overwintering Honeybees
Preparing for Deep and Long Winters
Managing Hive Capacity

Moving A Hive

A FAQ For The Committed New Beekeeper
1.3 About Beekeeping
The Tangible Rewards Of Beekeeping
An Introduction To Harvesting Honey: Part 1
An Introduction To Harvesting Honey: Part 2
An Introduction To Extracting Beeswax

Making Money With Beekeeping

From The End Of A Course To The Start Of Beekeeping
* * * * *
Awesome! Everything I needed to get started as a beekeeper. Very satisfied.
--- John
* * * * *
Colony Cluster is fun but also so helpful. It's so cool having my beekeeping questions answered by such experienced beekeepers.
--- Sara
* * * * *
I loved the Colony community, especially access to the very helpful PerfectBee Ambassadors
--- Dave
Sign Up Now to Start Learning
Monthly
$9.99 / month
  • PerfectBee Academy (3 courses, 100+ lessons, tests, certificates)
  • Colony Forum and access to PerfectBee Ambassadors
  • 9 Academy Webinars
  • Colony Cluster Q&A (Feb - Oct)
Join Monthly
Annual
$99 / year
    All Monthly Benefits plus...
    5% discount on ALL products in the PerfectBee Store (even sale products!)
Join Annual
Membership Frequently Asked Questions
What's holding you back in starting beekeeping?
  • I seek guidance from experienced beekeepers?
  • I am concerned about the cost?

  • I am not sure where to start?

  • I worry about the risk of being stung?
  • I prefer to attend live webinars, to ask my questions?
  • I would like access to a friendly forum of like-minded beekeeepers?

PerfecfBee Colony addresses all these concerns, through our rich Academy Online Syllabus, the Colony Community, PerfectBee Ambassadors, regular Q&A webinars, discounts at our beekeeping store and more.