Are Bees for us?

[Grammypammy]

My husband has a nursery at our home. I have a small flock of chickens. Retirement is about 8-10 years down the road for me. When my kids were young we had a huge garden, goats, chickens, rabbits, a beef or two, ddn't buy much for the table that we didn't grow. Wll we haven't done that in a long time. I want to go back to being natural again. This is my second year with the chickens and we are considering bees. I think I would have an outlet for brown eggs and honey at the nursery if we worked at it. Can anyone give me good advice on the subject. Do you get stung a lot? Is it more work than it is worth? How many flowers, clover, etc do you need to have around to keep them in your area? I am thinking I would like to purchase some used equipment because it looks like there is a substanial lay out of cash with no return of honey until the second year? I live near Erie, Pa, just 2 miles from the New York line. How do you folks who live this far north make out with bees? We actually had a new hive of bees land in a tree one year and called the Agriculture Extension Office so a local beekeeper who might want them could come and get them. They were there in an hour and willing to pay for them- we didn't want money, just a bee removal before a party in an hour beside the pook, where that tree of bees was next to. Are folks still losing a lot of bees to illness like they were a few years ago? Help me out people!

 

[sourland]

Beekeeping is great fun and very interesting. I had them more than 60 years ago, and things have become somewhat more complicated with colony collapse disorder and Varoa mites. I would suggest contacting a local bee keeping club and taking a course on bee keeping. Handled properly and judiciously, bees are very reluctant to sting. Good luck - sounds like fun to me.

 

[Life is Good!]

There is a very large interest in beekeeping as of late. Most places have a few organizations that advertise 'beginning beekeeping' classes for a small nominal fee. Some are bee supply companies, some are hobbyist clubs, some are not-for-profits (like local Ag extension office or local nature museum). This is the best place to start. Many larger communities have a beekeepers organization that holds periodic meetings - another great place to start to get information, watch and learn!

There is a fabulous forum (much like this one), called beesource.com Perhaps some of your questions have already been answered on that site. Check it out!

Yes, you can be successful in keeping bees for honey. But it's not a 'guarantee' - as there are so many variables such as weather, local mite populations, diseases and more. It's much like trying to 'guarantee' a broody hen! Seriously, there's no way to make such bold statements - not even with a silkie!

Our 2 acre property is surrounded by other 2-5 acre properties. Of the seven neighbors (don't ask), 4 have bees. I have yet to see ANY bees in my garden, yet, I'm getting great produce fruit set (green peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peas, beans, etc.) This is the irony of it all. If each hive has about 40K bees in it, there are 12 hives in less than 1/4mile - yet, no bees hanging around my yard! They travel up to 2miles in a circle from the hive (so 4mile diameter, with hive at center). So getting them to pollinate your own orchards is a great idea. But just be aware, they'll likely be pollinating someone else's orchard! However, we did give them a 'bee-bird-bath' to have a source of water - and I see many, many bees at that every day.

Haven't gotten stung yet - kept bees 1yr. Neither has neighbors who've kept bees for 3yrs. Haven't asked neighbor who has had bees 20+ yrs. As for the bee-sting therapy, I've heard it's still going on. Not sure much about it.

 

[Grammypammy]

I like the idea of it, but you are right- getting stung is a worry for me. we have small grandchildren i don't want getting hurt.
But mainly- how much WORK is is on a day to day basis. I am still working a 8-4:30 job and don't really need "one more thing to do" bu t i think it is another step towards going back to natural that we really should consider taking.

 

[Life is Good!]

I like the idea of it, but you are right- getting stung is a worry for me. we have small grandchildren i don't want getting hurt. But mainly- how much WORK is is on a day to day basis. I am still working a 8-4:30 job and don't really need "one more thing to do" bu t i think it is another step towards going back to natural that we really should consider taking.

Again, I've not gotten stung - yet. How much work is it? About an hour a week per hive. Depends on what you're doing though. If you're going natural and letting bees be bees, there's much, much, less work and worry. If you're following the advice to treat all diseases to the max - then you're doing a lot more with your hives weekly. And the cost is significantly more.

If you're looking at potential income source, yes, there is some money to be made - but much like chickens, how much depends on your management of the resource. If you're only interested in income, you'd likely make more money for less effort much easier than beekeeping.

Please know that the cost of equipment is huge - especially if you're only in it for the honey. (Bee suit(s), veils, gloves, smokers, Lang boxes, frames, foundation, top board, bottom board, supers, feeders, extractors, bottles, cappers, labels, etc.!) If you're in it for pollination of your orchard, then yes, you can use other methods (top bar hive comes to mind) that cost significantly less. Check Dadant company for their catalog of 'typical' beekeeping using the white boxes. www.dadant.com They're highly reputable and have a very good broad catalog of offerings. However, know that there are many, many bee suppliers - including Craigslist for equipment. Clean it first before using though!

I use a top bar hive and management method - I built my own hives for about $40. My bees cost $180 (2 three pound packages at $95 each). My smoker, hive tool and foundation (10sheets) was new from Dadant - cost $83.50. My beesuit, from Ultrabreezesuits.com was $259. That's before I even get any comb, honey or anything!!! My application to my State for an apiary site was free. Phew.

Why'd I choose top bar hive over the 'white boxes'? Because I'm in it for the health of the bees, for the pollination of our gardens and small orchard and for our family's consumption if any is available. Honey is a side benefit. The primary reason is the garden value. Know why you're doing this before jumping in with both feet. Read, read, read. Go to a class. Or two. Go to local beekeeping meetings (free and open to public). Meet some folks. Ask to hang out with them for a day to learn from them. That's how we all learn best - by doing!

If you don't need "one more thing to do" than this is not likely for you, yet. Perhaps in the near future. But doesn't have to be now.

 

[Grammypammy]

Thank you for an excellent reply. I have forwarded it on to my husband. I am more than ok with an hour a week. I was worried about a few hours a day. We did think the start up would be a little pricey. And I also thought of used equipment, so we will check that out as well.