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Barnyard Buddies:  Raising Honey Bees  |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 6:32:03 PM
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I had a friend growing up who raised honey bees in her garage. What I've been reading online says that's not a good place. Hmmmmm she had them at least 30 years in her garage in the city with out any known problems that I know of. She was a neighbor of mine, and always took a sampling of her bees (in this glass thing with honeycomb and bees inside) for the state fair each year.
Any way.......Does any one here raise them? And is it hard? Do you like it?
I just want one colony, just enough for my own family, I'm not looking at really making money with it. It would be nice if I could sell just enough to make back the money I will have to initially invest to have them. But, other then that, I really don't care about making any money with them. Just having them and having fresh honey for my own family would be enough for me.
http://www.wolfprncez.blogspot.com |
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SusieQue
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Susie
Greenville
Ga
Georgia
603 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 6:46:10 PM
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Heather, my husband had one colony for two years. This was enough for us and plenty more! We could not believe what we got the first year. Hubby had never been around them and worked them before. He read a few books and ask questions from people around that had bee hives. This year, they swarm (left) which somtimes they do. We will have to get more bees next year. But our honey was the best! Hubby just jumped right on in there and started to work - he was really disapointed when they left but others have told him that will happen.
I printed some basic ideas off the internet for him also that helped.
"A mother is someone you never outgrow your need for" |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
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patch22
Farmgirl at Heart
3 Posts
Linda
Wadsworth
Illinois
3 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 7:06:25 PM
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keeping bees. funny thing: on the North Shore of Chgo, you have to prove you're "agriculture" even if you have 10 acres. they actually have a formula for how many chickens, turkeys, ducks, sheep, donkeys, bee hives, etc to keep your taxes lower with the AG zoning.
my son lives in Zion, and grows a bit of hay keeps a couple of donkeys, chickens and peacocks, an occasional steer or 2 and it saves him a few thousand in real estate taxes ea yr
You may not "make" money raising critters and doing the work, but the $ you save in taxes is certainly worth it.
www.patch22.biz |
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junkjunkie
True Blue Farmgirl
1306 Posts
Judy
Lawrenceville
NJ
USA
1306 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 7:50:58 PM
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I know that for some time there's been a problem of bees disappearing. I don't know if it's my imagination...or that I've made myself more aware of looking for bees, but I've seen more bees this year than the previous year. There have been quite a bit more buzzing around in my garden.
"To have life in focus, we must have death in our field of vision." Benedictine monk John Main |
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Homespun Livin
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Brenda
Louisiana
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 8:20:32 PM
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Yep! American honey bees have been dissappearing due to some mites killing them off and the Afican bees invading and killing them off as well. This summer I saw honey bees pollinating my day lilies. Come to find out, my neighbor 2 houses down is raising bees!! I was so excited when my hubby brought home a quart of spring honey. It is really good for allergies if you can get it local. I really do hope that our American bees are making a strong and healthy come back.
"Love one another." |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 8:33:07 PM
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| This is our first year with bees and joining a local bee club has been the most helpful thing. |
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mrsmorgen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
morgen
coudersport
pa
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2008 : 06:01:31 AM
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I can't wait to get bees, our plan is to start a berry hoop house farm when we FINALLY sell and move to the farm. Then we will have bees too to pollinate all those berry bushes!!! YEAH!!!!
morgen
I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all..
laura ingalls wilder
www.laubers.blogspot.com |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2008 : 08:31:45 AM
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mmmmmmmm sounds good morgen.
Thanks every one.
Sheila, how is it going with yours? Is it hard to learn, do you think?
http://www.wolfprncez.blogspot.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2008 : 05:35:07 AM
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We got a hive this rear too. A friend is a bee keeper and has hives at the end of our road in the woods. We wanted some a bit closer. So one evening he said he was out driving around and saw a swarm in a tree. So long as the queen stays happy and likes a new location, the rest of the colony stays w/ her.
we have had our hive since early spring now and all seems well.
Bees really like buckwheat, so we planted a few plots in 2 filelds.
This time of year, the watermelon is ready, so there's plenty of foodfor all the critters.
Its so cool to watch them.
Sometimes when its really hot, i'll pass by (at a healthy distance) the hive and watch all the bees fanning the entrance of the hive.
Generally if you aren't threatening the hive or getting in the way, its a peacful existance. even when i'm in the garden picking produce, the bees fly away or just land on another blossom. |
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misstilliewillie
True Blue Farmgirl
136 Posts
glory
Tennessee
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2008 : 06:16:32 AM
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| We're getting honeybees, too! Can't wait...hopefully, by this time next year... |
Edited by - misstilliewillie on Sep 02 2008 8:26:23 PM |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2008 : 10:40:19 AM
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| We are loving it too! We probably won't get any honey this year, because we got our bees a little late (our first ordered bunch were in a truck wreck en route from CA to OH), but we're really enjoying seeing them and learning about them. The kiddos really think they're interesting too, and love to see "our" honeybees buzzing around. |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2008 : 5:20:13 PM
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I just started beekeeping this past spring-and I am really enjoying it.
It was recommended to us that we start with two hives-if one doesn't do well, you have another for backup or to combine hives with. Also, some common problems can be easily fixed if you have two hives to exchange frames between-such as laying workers.
Now, we have three hives. A friend who is a principal at the high school down the road called and said there was a swarm on a trellis there that the custodians were going to spray unless we had a better idea. So, we collected them and brought them home! Now it is one of our strongest hives.
Good luck!
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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Georgiann
True Blue Farmgirl
109 Posts
Georgiann
Seymour
IN
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2008 : 6:31:04 PM
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I needed one class to finish my ag degree in college, and picked beekeeping because I thought it would be easy -- was I wrong! It takes a lot of work to get a hive up and running, and keep it healthy. Reading these posts makes me long for a hive again -- good luck to you!
Whatever you do, do it with your whole heart |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2008 : 7:17:54 PM
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I have been watching a bee keeping program on RFDTV. It looks amazing! I hope to have bees when we get our own land. I have a feeling our neighbors would be less than thrilled if we tried to set up bee keeping in town.
The program mentioned that most hives bought in the United States are actually Italian Honeybees! I would have never guessed!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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chickabella
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
D. A.
Austin... ish,
Texas
177 Posts |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 04:50:58 AM
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So envious of you ladies who have hives! It's going to be another year or two before we can get ours!
 Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
Heart of Texas Farmgirls Chapter; Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #275
pic: Maggie & Bandit, our two Great Pyrenees puppies, playing "Shark Attack!" |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2008 : 3:12:40 PM
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I will have to look for that TV program Alee.
Um Alee, my friend did it in a VERY urban neighborhood, and I don't think any one knew! She just put a hole in her garage door for them, has had them for decades!
But, my reading says that the garage is not a good place for them. Which is odd since it's been working for decades for her. lol haha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 08:32:34 AM
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The main big "new" project I want to have this summer is getting a bee hive. I never had bees before and I have been doing some reading in books and doing research online but it seems like everyone in my research has different opinions and it is all so confusing. I just want my own honey even if it is a lot of work, everything worth having is worth working for! What is the cheaper catalogs to get supplies from, and there a so many different places to get bees from. Does anyone have suggestions where I should get bees from? Also, can I even get American honeybees or are the bees that these difference places are selling from different places? Does it matter if they aren't American honeybees? These are a few of the questions I had that research couldn't tell me. Thanks!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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CasieD
Farmgirl in Training
34 Posts
Casie
Edgar
WI
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 08:59:14 AM
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Krystle,
Hi there! Sorry I don't have any bee advice, but I'm in the same boat as you. I'd love to get a hive started here for our own honey! I'll be watching this topic for advice as well.
Also... glad to see another Wisconsin girl here!
Anyone have experience with top bar hives?
Casie
http://www.etsy.com/shop/designsbycd
http://www.designsbycd.com/ |
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urbangirl11
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Erin
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
22 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 7:39:55 PM
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I want to have a hive of my own, but until then, I read about other people's experiences. I'm not sure if either of you saw this, but Mother Earth News has recently featured a new blog about one man's bee-keeping techniques. He gets his bees from natural colonies, usually by rescuing them from public space before they were sprayed. Its a pretty interesting read and he lists some great places to start for more information.
Here's the link to the blog:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/honeybees-and-beekeeping/saving-the-honeybees.aspx
I just wanted to be clear that I'm not soliciting for his project (thought I personally think its a great one). I just thought it was interesting and figured someone else would too.
Erin |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 8:23:53 PM
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Thanks! It was really interesting and I hope he keeps blogging updates. Even after all my research so far this is the first time I heard about natural bee keeping. This is something I would like to find more info on. The more organic and natural the better!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4483 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4483 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2011 : 05:19:41 AM
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Hi future bee keepers! :) I just started my hive last spring. While it is kind of scary starting out on a new adventure, it is not rocket science! My online mentor told me that. I did alot of reading, which got to be confusing. There are so many differnt opinions that you can get lost. I have one hive, 8 frame medium boxes, no foundation, and a drug free zone. Keeping my fingers crossed they will make it though the winter. Check out the beesource forums, take information with a grain of salt, and do what you think makes sense to you. Micheal Bush website does natural beekeeping. I got my bees from Honey Glow farm in Owen Wi. They have a wonderful little store there too, selling all the supplies. Mann Lake is where I got some of my equipement. They ship with speedee, to WI, and the prices were great. We built alot of our boxes, though my husband thought it is easier to buy. I have a modified version of the Lang. hive boxes. Got those ideas from my mentor. I think the web site was bee works, in Canada, DE Hive is what it is called. Also got a hive cozy for winter, hoping to help the bees make it. I learned that bees are so fantastic, they just amaze me. And if mine make it though, I hope to split the hive this spring. I thought one hive would be enough, but........thinking two would be better!
Michele |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2011 : 07:50:33 AM
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Michele: thanks for the leads I will check them out! I had no idea I could get bees here in WI! How far away did you end up putting your hive from your house?
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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CasieD
Farmgirl in Training
34 Posts
Casie
Edgar
WI
USA
34 Posts |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2011 : 11:46:04 PM
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Hey everyone. There was another thread like this awhile back...hmm, I'll have to look it up...
I'm a third generation keeper going into the third year. Honeybees are wonderful, there is a lot to learn, but I find they work best (both the colonies, AND for the keeper) if you work in "natural" beekeeping, instead of doing too much pesticide and bothering them.
We now have 7 hives wrapped up for the winter! And yes, this is AN URBAN area. you can see more: http://bronxbees.blogspot.com
Also, my best guess on the garage is that condensation can form if the garage is too cold outside, too airtight inside. If it's cold and the condensation gets on the bees, they can chill. Variously, however, people have kept bees inside cotes (like dovecotes) and within boxes, for winters...this is historically documented. But for the most part, experts recommend open air around the hives.
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4483 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4483 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2011 : 8:35:51 PM
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My hive is maybe 30 feet from the house, if that. It is great to see them out working in the yard.
Don't tell anyone, but I always would talk to them! :) I talk to all my animals!
Also the earlier the better to put your order in for bees
Michele |
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Barnyard Buddies: Raising Honey Bees |
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Raising Honey Bees
