Our Bees

[hypnofrogstevie]

Thanks for the info stacey. I have to wait though cause my mom hates bugs lol

 

[Dixiedoodle]

First let me tell you--You can't have just one hive of bees--they are like chickens--one hive leads to two hives, two hives leads to four, four leads to 10 hives!

I have been keeping bees for 10yrs. and have 10hives. I love it. The best thing you can do is to join your local club--Call the Cooperative Extension office and ask about beekeepers. When I joined I was the youngest by more than 20yrs. and the only lady. Most of these men have been keepers for 40+yrs. They are a wealth of information, experince. You also might want to order the book "Beekeeping for Dummies". I use it all the time--like a reference book..deals with everything and in easy to understand terms. Dixie

 

[Blisschick]

DH got started in bees two springs ago to help pollinate our garden. The first year we had a drought, so he left the super alone so the bees would have something to eat. He added another hive body and super this past year, but didn't harvest the honey in time, so they've done really well. He had to buy a clipped queen last spring because the original flew the hive and took a lot of the workers with her. It made for some very cranky bees until the new queen arrived.

DH and I both got stung on the ear (major OUCH), him on both hands at different times, and my poor dog got attacked and nearly died. Just make sure the hive has a queen! They don't like not having one. un

 

[Reinbeau]

Oh my goodness, so many things to answer!

First of all I have to tell you if you want a really nice, friendly, informative forum for all things beekeeping you've got to go to the Beemaster Forums. There are actually a few members here who are on Beemaster, also, MarkR is one, Zunibee is another, forgive me if I forgot anyone else!

SpottedCrow, yes, I know all about the Marshfield Fair, my husband and I do honey sales duty there every year, usually on the last Sunday.

MissPrissy and anyone else who wants to get started with bees, I suggest you go to the Eastern Apicultural Society's beekeeping assocation directory and look up a local club, that way you get local information and most likely mentoring help to get you started.

Dixiedoodle's got it right, you can't have one hive. I really recommend you start with two, that way if you lost one you won't be all done for the season. I'm not going to lie to you, for some of us northern beeks it's hard to keep a hive going through the winter, especially when you aren't right up to speed on how to handle weather variations, temperature fluctuations, you're not quite sure how many stores to leave, how to get rid of the varroa so the winter workers and make it through til the spring buildup - it's not hard, just kinda like having your first child and having no clue how to stop it from crying

But it is truly worth it, when you taste your first honey you'll be blown away at the quality and flavor. That storebought stuff is just plain yucky in comparison!

We're going to have at least three hives here, five up in Maine, and the two at my mother's - that is unless we can find another yard to put more in.

As for close to the house, those bees up in Maine are the mildest ladies I've ever seen, neither one of us has been stung by them. Now, down here, I still have yet to be stung, and I'm working with them far more - hubby's been stung only twice. We still go into the hives, though, fully suited. I'm not brave enough yet to go into the hive bare handed with no veil. Although I do go out there with hubby, he opens it up and smokes them calm, then I'll use a frame puller to pull a frame or two - they're so busy with their business they haven't bothered with me yet. I'm sure my time is coming.....

Blisschick, queenless hives are in turmoil. Usually if a hive swarms, the old queen leaves with a cadre of bees and tries to find a new home, but they've left behind what's known as swarm cells, which are queens about to hatch. That's a natural way of reproduction for bees, we don't like it much because it cuts down on the honey harvest.

We've yet to try requeening, if these bees down here make it I'm going to think about requeening this year with a northern raised queen, to see if that'll help them get through the winter better.

Keep bees. The more of us there are the better the chances of the honeybees surviving.

 

[beekybuzzard]

Also if you check with your county ag. extension agent they can tell you if any beekeeping classes are available in your area. Our local organization is having classes in cooperation with the Clemson University Ag. Extension that are going on right now. They are very helpful and you also get to meet some beekeepers that may be very close to you and most will gladly mentor you and if you are lucky might even let you join in on catching a swarm.

 

[Blisschick]

Blisschick, queenless hives are in turmoil. Usually if a hive swarms, the old queen leaves with a cadre of bees and tries to find a new home, but they've left behind what's known as swarm cells, which are queens about to hatch. That's a natural way of reproduction for bees, we don't like it much because it cuts down on the honey harvest.

I was home when they did this. Freaked me out! I ran back in the house and called my hubby at work and told him his bees were swarming. He checked, but couldn't find any live queen cells. We're not sure what happened, but the queen wasn't happy, so she left. All is well in the hive now. He's got the queen confined to the hive body so she can't breed in the supers.​

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
This is exactly what a beekeeper told DH and I at the fair this past fall. We haven't been able to yet, but I know we will. I've thought about having bees longer than I've wanted chickens! There are beekeeper meetings in every county in my area!

I think I'll talk to the elderly guy that sells honey at our local farmers market. He lives close to me, and I thought if he needed any help with them I could volunteer and learn about the bees and what kind of effort it takes. He's been very nice & friendly all the other times I've spoken with him, and VERY informative!

 

[sara]

My dad has always been a beekeeper for as long as I have been alive.

One of the biggest perks of buying this house was that a man had been keeping bees in our pasture, he asked if he could continue doing so. We decided to allow him too in exchange for some honey. Well once a year he drops off a boxload of honey that last the entire year. I can't imagine keeping the few hives on our property that he does is finacially rewarding with how much he gives us. Turns out after talking to him he went to trade school with my dad.

I love honey, I eat it by the spoonful. I really enjoy comb honey and like to spread it on toast.

 

[sgtmom52]

This is a picture of our bees doing a cleansing flight on a warm day in January.

This is our first hive which we got last summer. Everyone is right when they said one leads to two and more. Hive #2 was just delivered and is awaiting assembly and setup for this spring! We got started through a "Nu-Bee" Program sponsered by our local bee club - www.ycbk.org They assigned us a mentor and even gave us a basic set-up, hive body, base and a queen & some starter frames with bees! They received donations from several local businesses (orchards & plant farms) to purchase the items. The club's goal is to set up at least 10 new beekeepers in the county each year. I highly recommened contacting your local beekeeping club and attend their meetings - beekeepers are some of the nicest and most helpful people around - next to chicken keepers!
Our club is having a stand at the Mid Atlantic Garden Show this weekend - complete with an observation hive. http://www.midatlanticgardenshow.com/

 

[treeclimber233]

What has happened to all the wild honey bees. There are none around my house any more. My DH has mentioned getting bees because we love honey ("real" honey is better than store bought? Wow!!) My mother had a swarm show up at her house last summer. She said someone looked at them and said they were the original wild bees that are so rare now. Not a domesticated bee that swarmed from a bee keepers colony. I would like to get them before my brothers get rid of them to "protect" my mother. They set up house inside the wall of an unused cabin on my mothers property.