| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| traildancer |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 1:16:25 PM
I am too lazy to page through all the topics here to find a beekeeping thread.
Could anyone give me information on getting started? I checked some sites on the internet, but I would rather "talk", so to speak, with real people.
I live in southwestern Oregon if that is a factor.
Thanks.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Dec 19 2011 : 02:46:12 AM
I watched Vanishing of the bees. I wish our government loved us as much as France loves her citizens. I bet they grow hemp, too.
http://www.vanishingbees.com/
“It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.”-Charlie Brown |
| bvfarm |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 12:38:07 PM
WOW!! Wealth of info!! w/my undergrad in nutrition we didn't get into this, but I really wish I had -now that I'm aware of my allergies! I am unfortunately not surprised about the honey...total disappointment. Makes sense about the heating etc. Didn't know about the restricted bee honey...I imagine that is hard to find. Doesn't seem quite worth it to me when I can just use something else. I know there are as many horror stories about agave too, but if I buy organic, atleast I know its not watered down w/corn syrup...I hope. Trusting industry big business makes me want to hurl. I really want to grow more stevia for that reason. I tolerate it well. I have one small plant I'm trying to nurse through the winter...
I will definitely be on guard about this honey endeavor, but since we have our own hive already in that tree, I might as well - who knows!
I do know my allergy testing shows rag weed, and a few others, doesn't bother me much if I'm doing well w/rest of my immune - like NOT DRINKING MILK (casein is #1 digestive allergy)(eggs & yeast are next), and having latex pillows & topper to eliminate dustmites (my #1 sinus allergy)....so I have no choice but to go organic/natural as possible!
Think I'll just start a post on allergies...blahhhhh!
BaileyVille Farm Farmgirl #3624
God is the only cure without sideeffects. Gratitude and Coincidence are His footprints. - CMV; I thank God for my handicaps for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.- HK |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 07:51:52 AM
Commercially prepared honey is usually also heated to a high temperature to separate the beeswax and kill any pathogens that may be present during the processing. This probably eliminates mold spores or other natural organisms that a person may be allergic to.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| star-schipp |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 07:15:42 AM
Paula, I had no idea about the grocery store honey! thanks for the info and for the recommendations on the wildflower honey
If you can't feed one hundred people, then just feed one. -Mother Teresa
Star - farmgirl sister #1927
Master Food Preserver |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 05:46:51 AM
Starletta, One possible reason you can eat the honey from grocery stores, is because a lot of commercial honey is not honey at all, but is mostly corn syrup. Regulations for honey production have low thresholds on the amount of pure honey that has to be in a bottle labeled as "honey". The news stories about transhipping honey from other countries that has been "watered down" and labeled as pure honey read like suspense novels, but it does happen today.
It could also be that the local honey you tried was sourced from a high concentration of plants that you have strong allergies too. For allergies, small doses of the thing you are allergic to is the key to proper therapy. Some beekeepers restrict bees within one area to forage on one type of plant by containing them within a large area of netting. Maybe you could try a small amount of wildflower honey that is composed of a mixture of plant sources, or honey from another local source and you may not experience the same results.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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| star-schipp |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 04:58:19 AM
Christine - you made an interesting point about allergies and honey -- I can eat the honey from the grocery store just fine but I got some local honey last year and had an allergy problems with just one bite....itchy, tight throat...it scared me a little. My DH wants to start a hive this year and I am very interested but a little scared too. If anyone has information on local honey being good for your allergies, please let me know.
If you can't feed one hundred people, then just feed one. -Mother Teresa
Star - farmgirl sister #1927
Master Food Preserver |
| bvfarm |
Posted - Dec 06 2011 : 8:36:36 PM
This is very interesting - thanks for the biobee site. I'm down in south TX and a few months after we bought our new place in June we cleared some of the land. We found bumble bees and honey bees. We haven't located the Bumble bee hive - think its higher up along a fence line, but we did locate the honey bee hive in a tree to the left of where we started our garden. Were contemplating what to do & when so I'm going to subscribe to this.
**thing is...I'm allergic to honey!!! HOWEVER... I did read somewhere - been a while - that LOCAL honey is actually good/better for you because it can help reduce allergies to local plants (from their pollen residue) similar to how homeopathic meds work. Anyone know anything about this??
Otherwise, guess I'll stick with using the wax maybe.
anyone know anything about using the wax? candles? lotion maybe? ideas? and how to get it out...geez, this is a whole new thing for me.
Cool =)
BaileyVille Farm Farmgirl #3624
God is the only cure without sideeffects. Gratitude and Coincidence are His footprints. - CMV; I thank God for my handicaps for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.- HK |
| windypines |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 05:05:16 AM
Marilyn I love that you named your hives! Great names.
Nan congratulations on starting a hive. While you will have lots of questions, you will learn allot. Common sense will go along way. I do have an online mentor. I have emailed him and sent pictures many times. He has been a great help and friend. His famous words are "beekeeping is not rocket science".
Michele |
| nanr42 |
Posted - Nov 27 2011 : 10:08:49 PM
I have a friend from church who has a small farm. She and I and another new friend (we met at Thanksgiving dinner at the farm) are going to Glory Bee in Eugene, Ore. in a week or two to buy our hives and order our bees. So we'll have three hives and they will live at the farm. I've read about this for years, and now I'm just going to do it. |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Nov 24 2011 : 07:18:37 AM
Thanks for the tip on biobees.com, Paula. A new place to explore.
I've also been stung a few times on my face, head and hands when working the hives without protective gear. Like Michelle I now wear my bee suit and gloves whenever I am near the hive and only open the hive if I'm in a calm and collected mood. Bees can sense if their caretaker is stressed or hurried and will take offense to that. I have two hives - the girls at "Honey Bear Hollow" are very gentle but the ladies at "The Buzz Inn" are feisty. My mentor says I should requeen the Buzzys this spring in hopes this will even out their temperament a bit.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| windypines |
Posted - Nov 24 2011 : 04:00:47 AM
This is my second year keeping bees. I have been stung twice. I always now wear my bee jacket and gloves. At the time I got stung I was bare handed. They are such interesting, hard working, and wonderful girls.
Michele |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 4:32:14 PM
Also look up Biobees.com for a more organic/natural approach to beekeeping.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 2:05:20 PM
I looked into it, when I lived in Idaho, but then we moved back here. I have an acre, next to five acres of bramble. The last time I got stung by a bee, it brought tears to my eyes, and there was swearing. I guess I should toughen up. UUgh. Do you get stung a lot? That's a stupid question, right?
“It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.”-Charlie Brown |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 12:43:36 PM
No, I bought my package bees from a local apiary in Snohomish.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 07:43:33 AM
Marilyn, did you buy your bees from them?
I swear I read something about Maryjane's Beekeeping.
“It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.”-Charlie Brown |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 06:43:16 AM
Loyce: Go for it! Join a beekeeping club and/or find a mentor in your area if you can. It is really nice to have a local beekeeper to learn from and contact if you have questions or problems. If you live in an agricultural area your county extension agency may offer beekeeping classes. Read, read, read. My personal technique is a blend of both natural and traditional beekeeping methods so be sure to read a broad range of information if nothing other than to become aware of the various ways of management. And like Michele says, take every bit of advice with a grain of salt and do what you think seems right and works best for you. Beekeeping is not an exact science and trial and error is key. I learned a few things the hard way and had to start over twice before I got the hang of it. Also -check out Ruhl Bee Supply in Oregon. I buy all of my supplies from them - they are friendly, efficient and ship very quickly if the items are in stock. If there is a problem they call you on the phone to work out a solution. Good luck!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| windypines |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 05:16:22 AM
Hi Loyce, there are so many different ways to get started. I did so by reading. I went to the library and checked out books. You can learn alot on the internet. Bush farms is my favorite site. As he does it like I wanted to learn. All natural. You can read on forums. Bee source is a popular one. YOu can join a bee keeping club. We don't have one in my neck of the woods. You have to take all the advice with a grain of salt, and decide for yourself how you want to "keep" bees.
Michele |
