How the bee was made, the bee made honey

[sundance]

best wishes on your bee keeping Miss Prissy, I'm deadly allergy to bee stings and have to keep something close for bee, wasp or any kind of stings,so I envy you being able todo that good Luck marrie

 

[Reinbeau]

Quote:
If you can find someone to hive a swarm for you now, it's a good time. Any later and it's too late - best to wait til next spring. Check with a local beekeeping organization and see if anyone is catching and selling swarms. Most of the packaged bees are gone for the season, I'm sure.

 

[MissPrissy]

Some photos inside our topbar hives.

 

[AllChookUp]

How cool is that? Thanks for sharing MissPrissy!

 

[bluebirdfarm]

MISS PRISSY ,
wow , that is kewl , i must say i have never seen until recently a top bar hive in operation.
we have 17 bee hives and we "ROBBED" ours last week , we got about 700 pounds , due to 3-4 of them being "splits " that we just made last month.
I love beekeeping , and of course
i really really love the honey.
good luck with your hives.

 

[MissPrissy]

Even cooler - my husband doesn't use a smoker or a veil or anything. He waits until late in the evening and tends the bees. No stings yet.

I am hoping for my own honey next spring!

 

[funkychicken]

Miss Prissy...I just happened on this thread...DH and I were talking about bees last night!! How much land do you need to "keep" bees...we have 6 acers and I would like to give it a try...we get "local" honey and take it for allergies...thanks

 

[MissPrissy]

You only need a place out of the way to put your hives. Bees will travel 4 - 5 miles away from home to collect for their honey making. They won't stay on your property if that is what you are wondering. They travel far and wide.

I have wanted bees for a very long time. We were too late last spring to get them but this year I got in by the skin of my teeth. If you really want bees spend the time now gathering equipemnt to be ready for your bees next spring. You have to order them early unless you know someone that collects swarms. They are usually sold out by May.

 

[funkychicken]

I noticed that the property next to us has a couple hives in their pasture..would this effect things...I mean as far as production...do you mean that bees must be "bought" by May for the following spring run...I need to get that bees for dummies dont I..lol

 

[MissPrissy]

Bees are sold by apiaries usually only from around March to the early part of May. This gives them time to establish their colony and build enough stores to get through the winter.

I don't know why bees on the other property would be a problem. Usually they protect their own hives. Unless they are starving they won't rob another hive.

And - yes, get books and do a lot of reading.