Beekeeping (album) Puns

Ive been doing a lot of reading and am considering starting beekeeping. Im finding conflicting idiology and opinions so I wanted some opinions from real life bee keepers. For reference, Im in WI and live in the country.

1. How much work is this actually? Daily/Weekly/Monthly, What kind of hours am I looking at putting in?

2. Im ready a lot of insects, mice, swarms, diseases and all sorts of other threat to the hives. Its very off putting. While these are real threats, how often is it something you really run into? Am i always going to be fighting something off?

3. flow hives - do people dislike them because they are actually sub-par or are people just purists and this is cheating?

4. how much do you actually get stung?

Edit: thank you everyone for the responses.

Ive got chickens (layers) and these seem like less physical work than them. It also sounds like the mites are an absolute certainty. As far as the flow hive: its "pretty" and it sounds like harvesting easier but if i go with this, i would absolutely plan to care for my hive appropriatly. I understand its not a "place and forget" solution. It sounds like people get stun significantly less than i expected, which is good. I ask because i have a mild allergy. I have to do some medical testing prior to jumping in.

Hi I’m new to beekeeping and tried to catch a swarm last summer with no success. Just ordered a nuc for spring 2022 and went to look for beekeeping classes. Searching the sub, looks like everyone has really positive class experiences, but mine would be expensive and 1.5 hour drive each week so I’m debating if it’s worth it.

Does anyone have experiences with starting out and not taking a class? Did it end up okay?Do you regret not taking a class?

I’ve read a few “Beekeeping for Dummies” type books and also this wiki but not much else. Any advice or experience to help me make a decision on the class is appreciated!

Hello All!

A little backstory; I inherited what was left of my family's original homestead. It is 3 1/2 hours one way from where I currently live to there. My wife and I plan on retiring there in a few years, but in the meantime we are building the infrastructure there to homestead it ourselves.

We will be planting the first round of fruit and nut trees there this spring. I am debating on setting up a hive there as well. My question for you much more experienced bee wranglers is: is it advisable to do so, and what challenges do you think I will face with not being able to check on the colony more than once or twice a month?

January 29 we are having a virtual beginner beekeeping course. Information on the course can be found on Facebook or at hoibees.org

Mine was 'super', it didn't seem to have any relationship to the square box it is.

I'm interested in starting a beekeeping RSO at UW. We would meet weekly to care for the bees. That said, it's going to be a process to get funding as it is a significant project.

The first step is creating an RSO. To do that, the club needs 5 people to serve as officers.

After that, we would apply for a grant from sustainability to start the apiary and purchase bees, hives, suits, etc.

Is anyone interested in helping me bring back beekeeping to UW, or even just joining the club once it exists?

I have or will have a lovely garden i have made an orchard, a fruit bed and a pond in the future i plan on having some wild flowers. I remember once over a scheme that was you rented your garden to a bee hive. Someone else looked after it and you got paid in honey. Is this still or ever a thing.

I’ve seen several posts asking about beekeeping lately. The local beekeeping organization, The Tennessee Valley Beekeepers Association, posted this yesterday:

Our mentorship program for 2022 is cranking up! The class is limited in size. If you've always wanted to keep bees, sign up now! Our year long course has classroom (or zoom) sessions about once a month, and field sessions in our apiary around two to three times each month. Class leaders include a university lecturer and experienced successful beekeepers. Our goal is to teach sustainable beekeeping to our students, allowing them to grow their apiaries and increase the area's honeybee population with healthy bees!

Besides the education, you will receive woodenware (a hive and a nuc hive with frames and foundation) tools, smoker, and of course honeybees! The price is not yet firm but is expected to run between $500 to $600. You will also need personal protection gear such as a bee jacket or suit, veil and gloves if desired. (I recommend gloves!) Our program is run by volunteers, and TVBA is a 501-c-3 Not for Profit organization, so the tuition does not include a markup or profit. Our class is recognized state-wide as one of the premeire learning beekeeping programs around.

Students will be expected to join TVBA and the state association, Tennessee Beekeepers Association, and attend at least 4 of our monthly meetings in 2022, as well as volunteer for at least 2 events. (It's easy!) Come join us!

Email beemailus@gmail.com to sign up!

As a fan of Cody's beekeeping videos I suggest everyone to watch Advocat Max Egorov's video on his idea of keeping bees in big plastic tanks. Quite an innovative way of learning about the bees' life through the see-thru material.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ItlOFLTUAs

Hello all! To preface I am not a keeper at the moment, but I’ve been heavily interested in it for a while now. Of course i am not going to start beekeeping until I’m financially and personally stable, so it may be a year or more. But I wanted to go ahead and start researching in the mean time. My biggest concern is that I don’t hurt the bees through honey extraction. I’m flexitarian (mostly vegetarian diet but with some meat occasionally) but have been looking into vegan ideas, and saw where honey can be a hot topic. While I absolutely respect anyone not wanting honey, in my personal opinion I have no issue taking honey for myself (and I stick with local honey from my farmers markets). The thing I DO get uncomfortable about is potentially crushing bees during extraction. Even if it’s only a few, that’s still something I want to avoid if possible. I’m not sure if there’s specific methods or techniques to use that would help?

If needed info since I’m a beginner, I’m located in southern Appalachia

Thank you all!

Hi everyone, I just called my city planning division and they said the municipal code prohibits keeping any bees. I’m really bummed out about this, I’m wondering if anyone has any experience to share right now to boost my mood

Hello Santa Rosa,

I really want to try beekeeping, but my living conditions don't really allow it

I was wondering if I could find someone who owns a farm nearby, or even better a patch of forest land, and would let me place a couple beehives on their premises and not charge a lot.

It is a hobby project and a fun experiment, I'm not planning to make any money off it (maybe later if it turns out I'm good at it I will think of monetizing it, but not in the first couple years), so I won't be able to pay a lot, but I guess I could spare about a hundred a month? I hope it sounds fair

What kind of location I'm looking for:

- Must be at some distance from the house, at least 100 yards

- Edge of a forest. Ideally in a place that has direct sunlight around sunrise, but is in shade in the afternoon

- Ideally under a tall tree with thick branches

I'm not planning to visit very often, probably once a week on average, might be more often when the situation calls for it

Hey GR,

Over the last couple years I've had people asking me about how to get into beekeeping and whether I would help mentor or teach them. It got me thinking about what would have been helpful to me when I decided to buy my first colony.

With that in mind, I have put together a course designed to get new beekeepers through their entire first year. The course is all-inclusive and comes with not only several educational sessions, but also the protective gear, beekeeping equipment, and your first colony of bees ready to install. The classes are timed to give you the information you need at the right time of year. The idea is that you will come in for the classroom instruction and then go to your own bees over the next several weeks and apply the lessons you just learned. As far as I can tell, this kind of comprehensive course is one-of-a-kind.

Also, instead of buying beginner kits which almost always contain the worst version of everything that money can buy, I will be providing you with tools and equipment that I have found to be the most useful and durable and which I use myself. In similar fashion, I will be sourcing the bees locally. Whereas most nucleus hives come from commercial pollination companies which truck their bees all over the country and die during their first hard winter, the bees provided with this course will come from over-wintered stock to ensure they are adapted to Michigan's climate.

In short, the course is designed to give you your best chance at being a first year beekeeper and not just a bee-haver.

For those not ready to take the full plunge, there are options to sign up for just the coursework or just the first session at reduced rates. The first session will be designed to give a general overview of beekeeping, what it entails, the risks, the rewards, and important things to consider. Those who sign up for a lower tier can upgrade their enrollment (provided space is available) if they like what they hear and want to take the next step.

Registration and additional information can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/211776869317

Finding a market to sell your products? High Starting price? Angry Bees? Other?

Thank you

I’m looking for recommendations on books (or other resources) I should read about urban beekeeping in Britain/ northern Europe.

I missed the boat on joining my local beekeepers association in time to join their beginners course, so I’m looking to get a year’s worth of studying in before joining for next year.

Hi everyone, I’m thinking about starting a few hives in my backyard and I’m wondering how I can profit off selling honey considering I probably won’t be able to consume all of the honey that I harvest?

One stumbling block I already foresee is the cost of packaging ( especially if it’s glass) and labels adding up

I’ve been wanting to start keeping bees for a while now, and I’m planning on moving to a new place in about two weeks and starting when I move there. I know a guy in the area selling a couple of nucs as well. The only problem is that I’m an idiotand only just realised I’m running out of time.

If I figure out what I need and order it ASAP and get everything set up when I move, am I likely to have much success? I’m not expecting to get a yield at all, and I’m willing to do whatever extra work is necessary to help my girls survive winter but don’t want to sacrifice them for a lost cause since I missed the boat.

Hi there everyone! How did you get into learning about beekeeping? Is this a sustainable job, or more of a hobby? I’m 18(F), and just graduated this year. I’d love to see what this occupation is all about, and possibly do it for a living someday! But I’m not sure where I’d even start. Any tips would be so so appreciated! Thank you.

I live on Earth, dimension ZK65. My "hives" are on a space station on dimension HC76. Every time I step through the portal to bring the honey in my dimension, it ferments instantaneously.

Can somebody help? Seriously, I can't wrap my head around this.

Hello everyone, I am someone who is looking into beekeeping. I live in central Florida and have always wondered about what beekeeping in Florida is like. Is there any off seasons? We don’t really get cold down here so I am wondering if winter is better here or should I still worry about loosing hives to temperature. Also I’m wanting to start it in my backyard that is next to wildflowers and orange grove is that something I can legally do? Like is there restrictions on putting a beehive in a residential area? Any answers would be great thank you!

So let's say I get the clothes, the smoker, and everything. Is the next step to just go to the hive, prop open the lid, smoke em, slowly cut the comb out, put them in the frames, and then attach rubber bands around the frames to keep them secure for a while?

Or should I wait for just before spring or something?

Its hard to get good, interesting, and descriptive pictures because the Malagasy I live with are not good photographers and im concentrated on the bees. However, I hope they're good enough for your curiosity. The pictures are of a few unsuccessful wild hive transfer attempts and the last two are me and a friend preparing a bait hive with lemon grass. The first picture is the favor. I have just formed a bee cooperative here and its almost time to harvest from our six hives that we caught in our swarm traps earlier this year. I thought it would be good to have a brand or label to market. The first picture is what I have so far but its not the best. I was hoping someone with photoshop could fix the color and the shapes of the bee eyes and any other improvements. Our brand name "Tsara fanahy antely" means the kind spirited bee. I chose it because I want people here to respect and be grateful for the honey and wax provided by the honey bee. Thank you for your time and I would be so grateful for any work done.

http://imgur.com/a/brfzM#0

I live in the countryside and the state park in my area is a dumping ground for nuisance suburb bears. There is a huge black bear population and although they look majestic and I’m in their territory I can’t help but get annoyed at how much destruction they do.

I believe yesterday or last night my electric fence failed and appeared on- but had no current flowing. Mr bear comes along and rips my hives I watched grow and worked hard on for two seasons. I’m so fed up of these bears I’m thinking of just giving up because they are relentless and it’s sad to see my bees die. I’ve seen them sitting outside the fence watching the hives during the day. I’ve even seen them up a tree stalking my chickens and goats. My neighbor lost one of her goats to a bear last year. They never give up, they literally stalk my property and harass us ( haha sounds so dramatic but it’s true). When I had the bees I couldn’t sleep because I kept thinking I was hearing them out there.

Any advise ? I’ve put bacon fat on the fence when I know they are around so they get an extra zap. The hives are fenced within another fence that is electric. I have solar panels that are shooting out volts that are supposed to keep cows and bulls in a fenced field.

My husband and I are looking at buying land and homesteading. A few beehives are part of our startup plan. When I looked up the property on Google Maps, there is a bee farm less then a mile away. My question is, if I started a few small hives, would that interfere with the older bee farm?

(For some context, this land is family land, so looking for a different plot is not that viable an option for us.)