Getting started in Beekeeping

[Kathy]

Producing your own honey would be a worthwhile venture for most homesteaders who have enough room to have a safety zone between their hives and property line so the bees are away from their neighbors.

homepage.ntlworld.com/gandboss/BeeginnersFAQ/Starting/1StartFrame.htm

www.gabeekeeping.com/beekeeping_101.htm

www.attra.org/attra-pub/beekeeping.html#BegBee

www.beekeeping.com/articles/us/small_beekeeping/getting_started.htm

[Deleted]

This is something I'm looking into. The sadest thing is that here bee keepers generally let the hives die out every year rather than keep them going over the winter. I don't know if I could do that, they work so hard all summer and then to just let them die, it's just sad.

[Kathy]

Marchwind, That's so sad. I know I would do what was necessary to keep them alive over the winter.

I always wanted my own apiary but Tom freaks out around bee's.

Now that I'm going to TX-well that area happens to have the Africanized honeybee's so I'm not as anxious to give it a try.

[jbourne76]

My dad keeps bees. I don't know anything about it, but I'd like to learn.

I keep telling him he could make mead, bees wax candles, sell the honey, rent out the bees for pollination purposes. Heck, he could have a great little business.

[Deleted]

I love mead!!!! I took the first steps and started reading some of my books the other day. They really are fascinating little critters.

[antiquestuff]

Yep, I'd love to keep bees. Cannot do that until I'm out of this apartment though (because of liability issues with other people around here).

Being able to supply my own honey and some beeswax would be wonderful! I hate getting stung by bees but it'd be worth it to someday have them...


Kathy: I know the "killer bees" are much more aggressive but it could still be worth trying. Just be more careful (have good protective gear for sure!).

[Deleted]

This is my first season keeping bees--I'm really excited about it, and recommend visiting local beekeeping club meetings to learn more, and perhaps shadow an experienced "beek".

I can also suggest www.beesource.com as a good forum on the subject.

[Deleted]

Antiquestuff,

I don't know where you are, but if you're really interested in beekeeping, you might ask some local small farmers if they'll let you use a patch of land in exchange for a couple pounds of honey. Lots of folks use that arrangement, and in fact I hope to when I need a second bee yard.

This is different from "pollenation services" rendered, when you're required to place a certain "grade" of hive (based upon how many bees are available to forage per hive, etc). In those cases, you can be paid anywhere from $30 to $100 per hive, depending upon your area and the crop.

[antiquestuff]

lupine said:

Antiquestuff,

I don't know where you are, but if you're really interested in beekeeping, you might ask some local small farmers if they'll let you use a patch of land in exchange for a couple pounds of honey. Lots of folks use that arrangement, and in fact I hope to when I need a second bee yard.

This is different from "pollenation services" rendered, when you're required to place a certain "grade" of hive (based upon how many bees are available to forage per hive, etc). In those cases, you can be paid anywhere from $30 to $100 per hive, depending upon your area and the crop.

That's an interesting idea. But I've done some reading of the laws here: they are worse than NAIS! They have a requirement for a permanent location (not that the bees cannot be moved but you must have a permanent location to keep them) to be registered, the bees must be registered, you have to notify them of diseases, etc. What a bunch of nonsense! Insane. And, I doubt I can get around it: they'll require a sender/carrier to notify them of having the bees. The postal service ain't gonna break the law...nor will any other carrier. If I could make such arrangements, get the bees smuggled in, etc., I'd do it, but I don't think it'd work...

But I'm determined to be out of this state within 2 years (2.5 at most) and preferably sooner. I'm not gonna take anymore of the police state/nanny state nonsense people have come up with here. It's as though communists took the state over (well, actually, they did! Starting in the 60's...). Once I move to another state (perferably one that's not stupid with regulations) I'll get myself lots and lots of bees. If the state I move to does want them registered, I'll get bees here, not register them myself and get out of the state within a day or two after doing so, and smuggle them in and no one will ever have a clue if I'm careful (they'll disappear in the night). Probably shouldn't post such things but time will tell what happens...

Ugh. Sorry the above turned into a rant. One can get very angry after spending a few hours browsing their state's laws...

[Deleted]

Antiquestuff,

Again, not knowing where you are, some laws don't apply to hobbyists with a maximum number of hives. But otherwise--I hear you! Soon enough, I'll have maxed out our own state's minimum (20) and will have to register them.

As far as Africanized Honeybees, it's interesting to point out that Argentina has dealt with AHBs for decades. They're one of the best honey producing countries around--mostly because there are so many keepers of European, domestic bees that they've diluted the AHB strains (I think that's how it went).

Texas and states in the SE are the biggest US producers due to their longer seasons, barring the drought Texas suffered this year. Responsible keeping of European honeybees is our best defense against AHB.

Indeed, there are many other problems plaguing the art--varroa mites are a relatively new (past decade or so) issue, but its the hobbyist and smallscale producer who is in the best position to find new ways to combat such diseases.

Bee Inspectors: Most states have inspection laws. This is usually administered through university extention agencies. (Our state didn't have it in the budget, so we're without an inspection program). While I bristle at the notion, many beekeepers--those who otherwise would be opposed to such policies--have found that their local inspectors are a benefit to keeping track of known disease problems in their areas, and in cracking down on negligent beekeepers--who more often than not make disease problems worse (leaving med strips in the hives too long, causing mites to become resistant to effective controls, etc).

Just what I barely know on the subject, FWIW.

[antiquestuff]

No exemption for hobbyists. Any amount. Nothing I could find in the law doing that. It's ridiculous...

[Deleted]

Antiquestuff
come to Alaska - We are so unknown for farming that there are so few laws on the books-so many of us fall under Fed law and the Feds overlook us. Lot's of bee keepers up here right now. They use styrfoam hive parts --I was just today talking to a keeper and learning what I will have to do for next year to get started.

Bee health did not come up at all. Looks like I have alot to learn in a year. I do know that the Alaskan Package set up will run about $400. local cost ---does that sound at par?

[terri]

People whi live in killer bee areas often re-queen every year.

A healthy young queen tends to keep the hive domestic: It is when the bees replace a failing queen by breeding a replacement queen who mates with the local boys that things get hairy!!!!!!

[thrillbilly]

On no!! Not hairy queens!!


Seriously though I found a for real honey bee tree out about a mile back in a stand of oaks on my property.

Any advice on how to get my hands on them?

I once saw my great grandpa cut a tree above and below a natural hive and use it where he wanted it.

Not usre this is best.

ANy ideas?

[Deleted]

No ideas on that one TB, but I've been wanting to start up a hive of my own.... just need a place to put them is all. lol

Kaza[/size]

[thrillbilly]

my grtgrandpa was cool with this type stuff. I saw a swarm of honeybees once and told him and he went and got a big metal pot and a big metal spoon and called the bees and it worked it was amazing to a six year old.