I'm a beekeeper. I've had a varying number of hives over the past ten years or so, but with my current time constraints, I have two in my backyard. Except for the first year, when you want to be more engaged to learn what's going on inside, it's a lot like gardening...lots of work in the spring and fall, but just some maintenance in the summer and even less in the winter.

If you live in the suburbs, avoid wearing a full suit and look like you're going out to handle nuclear waste. A veil to protect your face is enough, as long as you keep your movements slow and deliberate.

Beekeeping for Dummies is a great resource, and there are excellent forums at beemaster.com.