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I know what you mean. My friends think I'm nuts too. They tease me good naturedly about it.
I know what you mean. My friends think I'm nuts too. They tease me good naturedly about it.
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Grrr.....Hobby Farm = Mental Illness?
- Thread starter booker81
- Start date
Well my bees arrive on May 15th, I am so excited, I too have meaties and layers all on a 100x100 foot lot with 6 neighbors. So if you have a mental illness I guess WE will be roomies at the hospital.....I wonder if they will let my broody mooma room in with us!
- Thread starter
- #23
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You know, I do that on FB - pictures of dozens of eggs, garden produce, canned goods I've processed, all of that. Get lots of comments of "Oh I want some!" or "I wish I had the time". That's one that gets me. We all get 24 hours a day, and I know I like to sleep at least 8 hours, and have about 10 hours of work and commuting during the weekday. That still leaves me with 54 hours a week of time to be with my family and take care of my "hobby farm", the same 54 hours or so everyone else has. There's a LOT I can do with 54 hours a week outside with my family! This also includes wholesome dinners prepared at home, often with meat I've processed and vegetables I've canned or frozen.
We definately aren't for want in this family. Must just be jealousy
You know, I do that on FB - pictures of dozens of eggs, garden produce, canned goods I've processed, all of that. Get lots of comments of "Oh I want some!" or "I wish I had the time". That's one that gets me. We all get 24 hours a day, and I know I like to sleep at least 8 hours, and have about 10 hours of work and commuting during the weekday. That still leaves me with 54 hours a week of time to be with my family and take care of my "hobby farm", the same 54 hours or so everyone else has. There's a LOT I can do with 54 hours a week outside with my family! This also includes wholesome dinners prepared at home, often with meat I've processed and vegetables I've canned or frozen.
We definately aren't for want in this family. Must just be jealousy
You should get mason bees. If you are only interested in pollination, they are great early pollinators of fruit trees. They are solitary bees (they do not make honey), but they like to nest in hollow tubes. They only sting if squeezed. They are not aggressive and will not defend their "hive". My three year old was just outside "hanging with the bees" as he said... he was sitting about 1 foot from the tubes while 50-100 bees were mating and filling the tubes with mud and he was singing to them.
You just have to purchase (or make) the tubes and they will show up. I put my box of tubes where sun hits it in the morning. Today is the first warm day we have had this spring, so I think the bees were taking
advantage of this day.
Also, the only thing I have to do is provide the pollen tubes and clean them out at the end of the year (to prevent mites from over-wintering). My mom has honeybees and it is a lot of work (and drama... she has had the queen leave, queen die and then a swarm last year...).
You just have to purchase (or make) the tubes and they will show up. I put my box of tubes where sun hits it in the morning. Today is the first warm day we have had this spring, so I think the bees were taking
advantage of this day.
Also, the only thing I have to do is provide the pollen tubes and clean them out at the end of the year (to prevent mites from over-wintering). My mom has honeybees and it is a lot of work (and drama... she has had the queen leave, queen die and then a swarm last year...).
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I too live on a smaller property just over 2 acres and my friends and family think I am nuts at times too. My dream would really be to live on a small farm that is as self sufficient as I could make it. I don't see the connection between wanting a natural life and feeding my family fresh foods with mental illness.
I am curious though on the subject of bees. I live in the northeast so forgive me if this is a dumb question. We hear a lot about africanized bees taking over hives etc and I was wondering how you actually prevent that. I have also read that some beekeepers are having luck with working with them as long as they are taking certain precautions. They apparently produce just as much honey.
I wish you a lot of luck with your new project
I am curious though on the subject of bees. I live in the northeast so forgive me if this is a dumb question. We hear a lot about africanized bees taking over hives etc and I was wondering how you actually prevent that. I have also read that some beekeepers are having luck with working with them as long as they are taking certain precautions. They apparently produce just as much honey.
I wish you a lot of luck with your new project
Do you think it was just a joke because you said you wanted bees?? As in, many people are scared of bees?? So, it would be crazy to have them? I have chickens and people think I'm crazy...haha...but, if someone said I want bees, my first reaction MAY be (if it was a friend) to joke and say ARE YOU CRAZY? Only because I have a fear of bees. I don't like it when people act like I'm weird because I have chickens, so I do understand and I'm sorry that this person's comment upset you. Hopefully, it was meant as a light-hearted joke.
I have noticed that people who have never had anything to do with nature and farming of any kind tend to act as though they look down on those who do and have a snobbish take to cover their ignorance. I wonder if the person who made the comments lived in the city and has never seen a chicken or a bee in their lives other than in a book picture--or Internet picture these days as people don't read books anymore. If so, they may indeed be clueless about what they are talking about. Regardless, they are not worth the time of day when they are being rude like this.
- Nov 5, 2010
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Booker, as you see, you are in good company with your mental illness, LOL.
I understand exactly how you feel hanging out with the critters, or with your hands in the dirt. I tried explaning to my DH how I feel with my hands in the dirt gardening. He doesn't understand (chicago boy), but I think in time he will understand the joy of seeing tiny seedlings mature in beautiful fruits.
In about 6 weeks we are moving to a 1/2 acre in the country (and hopefully buying an adjacent 1/2 acre) and I'm busy planning my gardens, orchard, chicken coop and yes, where the bee hives will go! If I can swing it I even want a couple of pygmy or minature nubian goats.
Honestly I feel sorry for the people that don't understand, they will never know the simple peace and contentment that comes from living the way many here choose to.
I understand exactly how you feel hanging out with the critters, or with your hands in the dirt. I tried explaning to my DH how I feel with my hands in the dirt gardening. He doesn't understand (chicago boy), but I think in time he will understand the joy of seeing tiny seedlings mature in beautiful fruits.
In about 6 weeks we are moving to a 1/2 acre in the country (and hopefully buying an adjacent 1/2 acre) and I'm busy planning my gardens, orchard, chicken coop and yes, where the bee hives will go! If I can swing it I even want a couple of pygmy or minature nubian goats.
Honestly I feel sorry for the people that don't understand, they will never know the simple peace and contentment that comes from living the way many here choose to.
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Yes, do that!
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