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Thinking about getting bees ...

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michickenwrangler

michickenwrangler

To Finish Is To Win
11 Years
Jun 8, 2008
4,511
40
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NE Michigan
My husband and I have been hemming & hawing for the past two years about getting a beehive. Now that we have fruit trees and a blueberry patch, we're thinking more seriously about getting one to help with pollination.

I've read a few rather short articles about the subject. I have come across "Italian bees" and "Caucasian bees." We do not plan to sell the honey commercially (for our own use, my mother will buy some and possibly the neighbors) I have been thinking more about Caucasian bees since they are supposed to be "mellower" than Italian though they do not make as much honey.

I would appreciate hearing about others small scale set ups, links to good "getting-started" articles and websites of good suppliers or any of the Michiganiacs out there that can help get bees or let us check stuff out
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Thanks a bunch
 
Ohmigosh! You're so lucky to be able to do this! I am going to wait until I get all of my gardens in and my fruit trees. We're still in the planning and tweaking stage. Good for you and I hope you get the info you need!
 
Do it, you won't regret it. First find your local bee association and join it, they will help you along the way. Here is a listing of the beekeeping organizations in Michigan. There are lots of books and websites devoted to beekeeping, get a few, one of the best books published recently is Beekeeping for Dummies, believe it or not. Good luck with your adventure and if you any any questions ask away!
 
Thanks,
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So long as it is better than "Canning & Preserving For Dummies" (THAT was a disappointment)

We spoke more about it today, and my husband gave our daughter a lecture on bee safety, so we'll be working on it.
 
Go for it! Beekeeping is a lot of fun and very interesting too! We started out with 1 hive 3 years ago and now have 5 hives & are looking to expand next year.

We raise Russian honey bees. They are a cold hardy, mite resistant honeybee. We find them very easy to work with.
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/entomology/apiculture/PDF files/2.16.pdf

Beekeeping For Dummies is a good basic book for "nu-bees" to start with. Your best resource will probably be your local beekeeping club. Our local club www.ycbk.org is very active and assigns mentors to all "nu-bees" as long as they need one.
 
Seems like I just read this someplace on here about someone else thinking about beekeeping. Either that or I thougth I posted and I didn't. LOL

I did it growing up until I graduated from College and I moved on away from the farm. My Dad then took it over for awhile. We froze out a couple winters ago. My daughter had a special research project this year for one of her advanced classes (shes 9). She chose beekeeping. I am excited to get her back into it
 

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