I just got done listening to a Podcast from Paul Wheaton about bees. He interviews Jacqueline Freeman who talks about improve bee populations throughout the Country and on a homestead level as well! 285 - Reverence for Bees part 2 (paul wheaton's permaculture podcasts forum at permies) Podcast 284 - Reverence for Bees part 1 (paul wheaton's permaculture podcasts forum at permies)
Something I want to do when we get property. Don't need a lot of honey, so they bees can keep most of it. I just want them to have a nice, safe place to be able to do what they do
Thinking along those lines myself. I need to do a bit of research to see what effect (_good or bad) it might have on my hunting on my land, first though.
If you give them an area, and don't make loud noises near the hives, little or no effect. They will keep plants, flowers, alive so the critters will have good grazing which makes hunting great. Guess the honey might attract a bear or two, might have to take preventive measures for that
this was a brutal winter, between me and my friend that owns/manages the hives, 18 of 21 didn't make it through the winter.
One of the summer chores for this year is to move a couple hive up to the place.. Have "T" poles and electric fence around the hives and a solar fence charger to light up the bears...
Will be putting two hives in asap. If you live around them you really will be OK. We were raised with bees and never got stung unless we messed with the hive. We mowed around them, played nearby, and generally paid them no attention--and they us. Bees are nice neighbors.
You'd be surprised how many bees at the height of the season that a few hives actually contain. OMG! One benefit of having that many bees (friendly little suckers) is that my yellow jacket and hornet population is nearly null.
go talk the folks at the apple orchard or a local farmer. they usually know a local bee keeper. Maybe a real feed store (not TSC or big box ag type) go local. You will kill off lots of bees before you get it right if you go on your own. Wanna hit the ground running .. local mentor.
Yup, they die easily sometimes. Check with your County Ag agency, and the phone book for local bee keeper clubs.
Nearly every county around here has a bee keepers club and they welcome newbies. Check out this link: Beekeeping Forums - An International Community of Beekeepers
Step 1. Set up at least two hives, this means have the equipment painted and seasoned. Have one full size hive body ready with all frames with foundation. Step 2. Get your PPE in order. Be aware that if you capture swarms they may be Africanized and are very dangerous. Never do a hive capture at night you will regret it, he says, remembering the stings. Step 3. Call your local Fire Departmnet and have them put you on a BEE Swarm List. At first only capture open swarms. Removing Bee Colonies from structures can come later and something you can earn extra money completing. Be aware that this is a learned skill and should only be done in the rural areas. Step 4. GOOD LUCK YMMV and I've done it all.
If you have a garden/orchard then you need bees around to pollinate properly. Am tickled to have a few visiting our trees--they are good critters.
Kelley Beekeeping The supplier I have used for "a few years" or about half their time in business. But who's counting.
The nice thing about bees, is once you get them set up, they manage themselves. We have a hive that has been pollinating our small orchard for years with no maintenance. Last summer the hive actually split because it was getting to crowded.
