Does anyone keep bees? I have always wanted to do this, and was wondering how easy/difficult it might be.
The quickest way to get in touch with Jane is to PM her and I'm sure she'll be more than willing to help you out.
New2it, bee-keeping is fascinating, fun, and can be profitable. I'll try to give you a quick overview, but be sure to ask any specific questions I've missed. Bee-keeping is as easy as you want it to be. You'll need new hives (don't buy used because of possible disease problems); frames for the honey and the brood; a stand for the hives to keep them off the ground and improve air circulation; a veil for yourself; a smoker (a little oil can looking thing that you put slow burning smoky material in and smoke the hives to calm the bees); and a reference book. Most bee-keepers "fuss" their hives by checking on them too often. The easy part is just letting the bees be bees and doing as they please. You will need to check for wax moths and for mites, both are easily taken care of. You will also need to make sure your hives are safe from predators like skunks. We check our hives monthly, and each hive takes about three minutes. The funny thing is, that when you are working with the bees, everything seems to slow down. The bees are doing their work, you are moving slowly so as not to frighten the bees, and you and the bees are working together at half-speed. Plus, the more you learn about bees, the more you admire them.
thank you, Marlingardener! I've been to the library, and gotten a couple books. It is very interesting reading, and I noticed that there are certain plants that bees prefer, or are better for them, so I have a reason to put in more plants! BONUS!
Bees are a great excuse for planting--I actually have two extra flower gardens, thanks to the bees and my husband's willingness to let me dig in the dirt! I highly recommend Beekeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston, and The Backyard Beekeeper by Kim Flottum. I hope you decide to keep bees. It not only is fascinating, but it is so very good for your garden and all the gardens in a three mile radius.
I wish to keep bee's also. (Once I have the cash to buy everything, I only do business in cash.) The three mile radius has me worried though. Genetically Modified crops are grown within a few hundred yards. I've read that GMO pollen does no good for the bees, or their honey. Your thoughts?
Again, thank you Marlingardener. I will find these books as soon as possible. I have enjoyed the bees since Saturday, and as long as they want to stay, I am going to do my best to keep them!
FBG, we are in farming country, surrounded by wheat, oats, corn, and pastures. Our bees and our honey are fine. We haven't found the pollen from genetically altered crops is a problem. If you look, bees don't visit these crops unless there is absolutely nothing else, and then it's more likely that the hive will up and move. Buckwheat is a great bee crop, so if there is buckwheat planted within the foraging radius (3 miles) they will visit that. Most of the pollen comes from trees, flowers, and shrubs. The nectar gathered is from pretty much the same sources. New2it33, those books are available used on Alibris.com for very little money. Do I understand your bees have arrived and are hived? Or do you have a swarm? If you have a swarm, get a hive quick because a swarm is actually "moving day" and will go somewhere to set up home within two or three days.
Marlingardener, we collected a swarm, but they are hived now. I don't know if they are "settled in", or whatever it is, but my cousin says they should stay put in the hive and do their bee thing. I hope he is right!
New2it33, great! If they haven't left yet it is unlikely they will leave the hive. Are they coming and going? Do you have a source of water nearby for them (a pie plate filled with gravel, or an upside down garbage can lid with rocks will do fine). The swarm was looking for a home, and it seems you provided one at just the right time!
Yes, they are coming and going! and carrying pollen into the hive. (that was really cool to see!) I have a pie plate on a tomato basket for water. I hope they are staying! They are very active , so maybe...
If they are bringing in pollen, that means they are building brood (the queen is laying eggs and the workers are feeding babies). They don't do that if they intend to leave. You have a hive!
There are real problems with declining Bee numbers lately. Anyhting that can be done to reverse this, though domestic beekeeping as well as larger scale is to be encouraged.
