Bee Keeping

[short cut sally]

After a year of my Dad stating I should venture into bee keeping with him and finally getting my DH's approval (he swells like a wet sponge when stung by insects)- I've made it official. I'm gonna be a bee keeper! My dad came into bees accidentally 2 years ago, and his little hive built in an old barrel however momma bear and her 2 cubs devoured all the honey last summer so he lost his bees and his "hive" so to speak.
Last week I went to an apiary/supply place and came home with the bottom brood boxes and some other inside goodies to assemble to make the hives. I wanted to purchase the pre-assembled but DH said he would assemble them for me, after I stated I wanted pre assembled as I know him. There is a dead line because my bees come in May 13th and will need to be picked up that day. (maybe that will get the spark activated.) The apairy was very informational and I came home with the smoker and the bee suit.
I went on line and found an older man that used to be the local bee inspector and now runs the county honey bee association. I chatted with him for some time, and I spent 3 1/2 hours with him on Sat. while he opened his hives for the first time this year so he could show me what to look for.
I found that my bees have to be registered and then they are inspected by the county at least once a year for diseases. They want to try and catch any diseases before they spread to other hives or other bees in the area.
I was amazed at how often they should be tended to, at least every 10-14 days one should inspect them and do all the mite treatments. Treatments include ranges from harsh chemicals to almost organic methods. The chemical treatments state caustic if touched by humans, wonder what they do the bees and honey in the long run? I am going to go as "organic" as they say as can be.
The hives have to be bear and skunk proofed. That means an electric fence of some sorts, with 2 lines of wire. THe top wire has to have bacon attached as the bears will go for the bacon and when their mouths touch the "hot" bacon, they learn to stay away. No bacon, the bears will just plow thru the fence. Skunks won't come near the wire.
Extracting the honey can be done 6-10 times a year, but this year, will be mainly getting my bees established. Letting them make their own honey for wintering over. But maybe next year, if things work well for the bees, I can get some honey to have on my bread. I'm not informed on the whole gathering and bottling things of the honey but this is what I know....I was told it won't make me rich. Darn. So much for those "quick to get rich schemes"....
So, I am looking forward to this new adventure of being a bee keeper. I wanted to share my excitement with someone..does anyone else here do this venture?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I really admire your doing this.
I've started a worm bin for composting, which looks sort of like a hive. We've considered bee keeping as well, but are not 'ready' just yet. I love insects and keeping tiny creatures that produce a harvest of some sort. For me I guess it's earthworm casting fertilizer for now. Bees are definitely tempting, especially when you don't have a lot of land available.
My older daughter has a Cornell entomology degree and worked there in the honeybee dept there for a couple of years. At the time the 'colony collapse' had not become an epidemic yet, but she was working with and researching mite control.
Good luck, and keep us posted!

[OakLeaf]

How exciting!

Being a snowbird means I can't keep any kind of livestock but I just LOVE honeybees. I'm happy whenever I see them! Good luck with your hives!

[tulip]

That is wonderful! I've always wanted to keep bees. The former-DH said no way, but now that I'm on my own...maybe, just maybe, I will! GLC has bees--I'm sure she'll chime in here.

[skhill]

Bee keeping-- how cool! My Grandpa kept bees-- we grandkids got drafted to come over and help with processing the honey when he harvested. Every time I have to buy honey, I think of him... Honey from bees you've met and that you yourself strained and bottled definitely tastes better!

[ZenSojourner]

What are you doing for an extractor? I've got plans for a home made extractor and a solar wax melter thingy around here somewhere, from the old homesteading days.

[sfa]

That's so cool! I've been interested in beekeeping for years (and DH would love for me to do this since he makes mead and is always looking for sources of honey) but have never taken the plunge.

I'm looking forward to your updates!

Sarah

[aly]

I'm so impressed that you're doing this! There was a short segment on NPR a few days ago that was about beekeeping, but I just learned so much more from your post. It sounds so interesting. Maybe I can talk my SO into this since he rejected my chicken plan. I've only managed to get him onboard with composting and gardening thus far. It's tough because we have lots of pets and a smallish yard. Does it end up being very expensive?

Please keep us all updated.

[GLC1968]

Tulip is right, we have bees. It's my husband's project, so he's the real expert in the family, but so far so good. We have Italian bees since we don't have much space and we knew we'd be working in close proximity with them quite a bit. Italian bees are supposed to be very docile.

We picked up our bees about a month ago and they are doing a great job of getting the hive established. My husband opens it and checks on their progress once a week and they are doing really well.

We set our hive up in the middle of our 'mini' orchard and they seem quite happy there. We don't have issues with bears, and I've not heard that skunks would be a problem (we do have two dogs and about 4 cats in the immediate area, so varmits are rarely an issue for us).

Out of all of our live creatures so far, the bees are the easiest (even moreso than the worms which caused us fruit fly issues in the beginning).

[Biciclista]

I have a friend who does bees in Arkansas. There is a small but growing group of organic beekeepers, and from what i am hearing, if you follow their methods
a lot of the problems plaguing bees will not plague yours. Google "Bush Bees"
and you will find a wealth of information.
(this has nothing to do with presidents who coincidentially share that name)

[GLC1968]

Oh yeah, and we are aiming for 100% organic in our beekeeping, too. We won't certify because it's for our own use only, but that's how we operate (no chemical inputs if at all possible) for all of our 'farming'.

Mimi is right - there is quite a large movement towards natural beekeeping, particularly for the small backyard keeper. The 'backwards beekeepers' in CA have a great blog: http://beehuman.blogspot.com/ if you want to read more about it...

[badger]

oh, I'm so envious!

A short while ago I met someone who was trying to get a beekeeping apprenticeship program up and running in B.C. He told me he'll keep me updated.

I've always idealized beekeeping and hope that one day I'll get enough courage to leave my work to do something like that.

Good luck!!

[short cut sally]

Thanks for all the great replies so far and your enthusiasm.
Like GLC, I have ordered Italian Bees. They had last years prices up but a box of bees I think will cost me about 80.00. But, when I pick them up I'm sure as with anything, the price will be different.
To answer Aly's question, I've purchased so far, 2 brood boxes, a bottom tray, and 20 liner majobbie things that the bees will attach their combs to for establishing their broods and pollen storage, a lid, a feeder tray for early spring, a smoker, a half bee suit vs. the full bee suit, and a beginers bee book that went into detail about all the diseases and mites..(the mites control just makes my head spin )so far, all that stuff was a few dollars short of 300.00. I still have to get some "honey supers" as they are called for the honey comb itself. I have yet to get a battery and fencer unit and fence and posts for the wire. I have to get paint for the boxes. So in addition to the bees, I have more expense yet. ANd we shouldn't forget about that slab of bacon that needs to be applied to the wire..
To answer Zrnsojourners question, extracting??? HHMMMM....I was told that there may be a 50/50 I will get honey this year. This year was to mainly get the brood established and get them ready for winter. If they filled both brood boxes complete then I could think about honey this fall, but only if they filled. If not then I might have to feed them over the winter with a dried sugar block--which is different than the liquid feeder I purchased for initial set up. I looked at the extractor that was a hand cranked one that spun the racks of honey, but I think that came with a small price tag. I knew I was getting a small sum racked up so I stopped shopping but just listened to what the apiary had to offer. Maybe I will rig something up or do what my grandpa did, just cut the combs of honey off the rack and flop it on a plate..He only did comb honey but I am sure I can figure out something really cheap, even if I just drain it over a pan or something..
The bee man I went with, he scrapes the racks for the extra wax, keeps that and melts it all down in a solar wax melter and does stuff with it. Then the bees make this stuff called propolin- a sealant of sort made from saps of pine trees or anything sticky, and they make seals in leaky areas. He scrapes that and gives that to his friend who sells it.." there's money in that stuff" I was told, its made into salves or something.
I still got lots to absorb before my bees arrive, my DH thinks my hobby is getting very involved..but once you learn the ropes, it shouldn't be so complicated. I go to my first honey bee association meeting in May, they are held once a month and are filled with guest speakers from Cornell extension and other local keepers. I had no idea that it was so involved..I just remember my grandpa going to the field, opening the lid, getting the honey and going back home and putting the rack of comb on a plate, then having bread with honey spread on it..oh to relive that time again...
I will keep you all posted..and I may be asking GlC for advice too so be prepared...and all of your opinions too...thanks again

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Shelly can we have an update on your bee hive progress? I am very interested!

[Zen]

That is way cool. I like the idea of a Bee Inspector

knockknockknock
Who's is it?
Bee Inspector!
I'll be right there!