Beginner Beekeeping

sikadelic

sikadelic

Chumono
Messages
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Location
Southwest VA
USDA Zone
6B
Hey guys and gals. My friend and I have decided to try our hand at beekeeping this year. From what I have researched so far, we will need to get our hive set up and get some bees this year if we want to harvest next year. Have any of you all tried this? I'm not quitting my day job but it seems like a fun side gig that my family and I can do together and see where it goes.

There is a local beekeepers association I will be checking out as the Spring approaches and will hopefully find some old timers who have some cheap supplies or help us get started. Ideally, I would like to be able to take fresh, local honey to the farmers markets and flea markets. Even if we don't sell any, I can drink beer under the canopy with my buddy. Win/Win!
 
Mead, my man, mead. Aged for 7 years.

For harvests next year, two things ------- full hives and enough flowers.
You also should get an average on how many hives your area can support,
as well as other apiaries in the area.

We do Africanised bees, more aggressive, and the apiary has to have a fence
or hedge around it and be 200 metres from a house.
Was cheaper to once again make all of our equipment.

Had to stop to build houses.
Re-starting up on the north of the island.
Best of luck.
Good Day
Anthony
 
I find this interesting. Good luck and def post updates on how it goes.
 
My guy is going to pay for me to set up a hive when I move.

There is a National(I believe) association, that helps people get started.

I just watched the First episode of some food show on Netflix about HOney.
China is fucking us...go figure...

Oh...the bandsaw blade from the new town of Milwaukee, China.
20180107_052721.jpg

Shit.

Anyway...watch that show. Youpon Holly.

If you dont think China would kill our bees, hence, "no one knows what is going on" I think youre (one is) dead wrong.

From China to Britain......

Long live the Queen!

Sorce
 
I've been interested for a while, but living in an HOA- who likely forbid it- with 3 kids and several not so smart dogs have tempered my desire to try. I'm looking forward to your efforts being posted here.
 
Thanks for the comments and encouragement. I have sent out a couple of emails to the local extension office as well as the POC for an even more local association. I have heard that there may be some grants and assistance available through the local government to help set up stuff like that for people who are new like me. I will follow up and keep you guys in the loop!
 
I started last spring as a new beekeeper with one hive. They did well all summer and evacuated in the fall. I just got a new, strong hive from a friend in my bonsai club yesterday and he will help me start a second hive with the first swarm he catches this year. If at first you don't succeed.... etc.
I've joined the local home beekeepers club and not only are they a source for information and answers but the sell equipment, supplies, package bees and nucs at very good prices through the club.
 
I have been keeping bees for about 15 years now. It is a lot of work.
A few things:
Start with 2 or 3 colonies. Its not much more work than 1 and less disappointing when 1 or 2 die or swarm, etc.
Order packages or nukes NOW, everyone sells out early. If you wait until March, good luck getting anything this year.
Invest in a good jacket with attached veil and some leather bee keeping gloves. They are not required equipment for experienced beekeepers but beginners will never work with the bees enough to get comfortable without good protection.
Find a mentor if at all possible, and spend as much time working with him as you can. Books and internet can't teach you everything you need to know to succeed. There is no substitute for helping an oldtimer.
Lots more I could add, not enough time.
 
PaulH said:
I started last spring as a new beekeeper with one hive. They did well all summer and evacuated in the fall. I just got a new, strong hive from a friend in my bonsai club yesterday and he will help me start a second hive with the first swarm he catches this year. If at first you don't succeed.... etc.
I've joined the local home beekeepers club and not only are they a source for information and answers but the sell equipment, supplies, package bees and nucs at very good prices through the club.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up. Since you are starting new colonies I will take it that you really enjoyed it. Good call on the ordering...I hope the extension office gets back to me soon so I can order through them or whoever they recommend.

James W. said:
I have been keeping bees for about 15 years now. It is a lot of work.
A few things:
Start with 2 or 3 colonies. Its not much more work than 1 and less disappointing when 1 or 2 die or swarm, etc.
Order packages or nukes NOW, everyone sells out early. If you wait until March, good luck getting anything this year.
Invest in a good jacket with attached veil and some leather bee keeping gloves. They are not required equipment for experienced beekeepers but beginners will never work with the bees enough to get comfortable without good protection.
Find a mentor if at all possible, and spend as much time working with him as you can. Books and internet can't teach you everything you need to know to succeed. There is no substitute for helping an oldtimer.
Lots more I could add, not enough time.
Click to expand...
I had originally intended to only do 1 but I will take your advice... that makes sense. Any books you recommend?
 
sorce said:
My guy is going to pay for me to set up a hive when I move.

There is a National(I believe) association, that helps people get started.

I just watched the First episode of some food show on Netflix about HOney.
China is fucking us...go figure...

Oh...the bandsaw blade from the new town of Milwaukee, China.
View attachment 173472

Shit.

Anyway...watch that show. Youpon Holly.

If you dont think China would kill our bees, hence, "no one knows what is going on" I think youre (one is) dead wrong.

From China to Britain......

Long live the Queen!

Sorce
Click to expand...

In the last 2 or 3 years I saw some nature show that showed that in some areas of China there are no longer any bees. There are people that go out to pollinate the fruit trees.
 
Dan92119 said:
In the last 2 or 3 years I saw some nature show that showed that in some areas of China there are no longer any bees. There are people that go out to pollinate the fruit trees.
Click to expand...

That sucks and kinda makes me feel guilty!
Bloody hell.

Sorce
 
I know, I know, I said "last post" 4 times already... had to chime in for someone who is starting out from scratch...

Check this out, those Aussies have a real time and labour saver here...

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/...p-directly-from-your-beehive-environment--5#/

https://www.honeyflow.com/shop/p/94

I will caution you one one thing though... "apparently" the American made hives weren't being made properly, which made assembly difficult or impossible to do (but take this with a grain of salt... I didn't experience this myself)... I would "assume" that they have this issue straightened out by now if there was a problem, but I'd check on this before I ordered, or get then sent from Oz. What I read was the problem only effected the assembly of the box, and not the Flow sections themselves.

They have quite an amazing back story if you decide to look into their history.

Hope this helps. (Now for sure I'm done... see you next year)
 
Those look amazing and something that I would definitely look into if I had that much money to spend right now. I love to do woodworking too so I wanted to build my own or as much as I can.

Gotta love that engineering though! Thanks
 
Wow those prices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

We just go south, and purchase planks of slow grown Cedrula, from the sawmill,
it is termite immune and a medium hardwood.
Then just make the boxes, nukes and full body hives, as well as 1/2 body supers.

We even made the extractor and the frames.

Not really enjoyable to just buy. We also catch hives in the wild and have never
had the hive flee.

BOOK SUGGESTION -

The ABC and XYZ of Bee culture by A.I.Root [ ours is from 1980 ]
Family comes out of - Medina - Ohio - US.
Encyclopedic.

Good Luck,
Anthony
[ Africanised Bee Keeper since 1988 ]

Mead maker since 1987 ------:eek::cool:o_O
 
Good call on the sawmill Anthony. We have a local mill that I completely forgot about.

Thanks for your help guys. I genuinely appreciate it! Don't be surprised if the PMs start flying your way when I get started. :D
 
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