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Barnyard Buddies:  Beekeeping Newbie  |
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MamaCrunch
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Nasvhille
TN
USA
161 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 07 2010 : 08:15:51 AM
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I've decided I'd like to try my hand at beekeeping next year. Are their any good books or other source that would be helpful? I'm hoping to ask a local beekeeper if I can help out with their bees to learn the reins.
Funny side note: DH said I can only keep bees if we have African Killer bees!! Men!
Farmgirl #2161
Just tryin' to homestead in the middle of a suburban neighborhood!
Blog~ http://thelittleboygreen.com <<I've been slackin' on the updates! |
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cntrygrl
True Blue Farmgirl
139 Posts
Tommie
Kansas
USA
139 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2010 : 09:33:07 AM
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MamaCrunch, I want bee's too! We had bee's when I was a kid and I want them back. There is nothing like that kind of honey, yum! And it would be a great outside hobby. Most books I've found are snoozers, I have to admit. Right now I have a bookmark in "Beekeeping. A Practical Guide." by Richard E. Bonney. Its okay. I've had it for quite some time, I love reading, and I'm only on page 61 if that tells you anything. There isn't anyone locally for me to learn from so I think that's a great idea! You could learn so much and maybe even get some deals on some used equipment. If you do help out, I'd love to hear about your experience and anything you've learned.
Best of luck!
Tommie |
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country roads
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Melissa
Shinglehouse
Pa
USA
443 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2010 : 07:27:52 AM
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DH and I have decided to get some bees in the spring for our farm too! He grew up on this farm and his dad always had bee hives. If you do happen to find any good books or web sites please share and I'll do the same! I can't wait to get started now :) I was hoping having honey from right here would help with my allergies to.
Take care, Melissa.
Farmgirl # 352
~Think happy thoughts~ |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2010 : 12:13:53 PM
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You will enjoy having bees! I started a hive in April of this year and it has been so much fun. I didn't harvest any honey this year since we had a really off weather summer and I want to make sure my bees have enough natural food to make it through the first winter.
I highly recommend that you join a beekeeping club, help another beekeeper or work with a mentor. Having someone to call if you have a question is really reassuring during the first year or so until you get the hang of things. I have two friends who keep numerous hives around the area and they have been an invaluable resource for me in getting started with this hobby.
My favorite books are "Natural Beekeeping - Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture" by Ross Conrad, as well as The Backyard Beekeeper's Handbook" and "The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook" both by Kim Flottum. I've checked out several other books from the library but these are the only ones I've purchased for my own collection.
There are some good online resources. Many of the major beekeeping suppliers have information on their websites. Bush Farms and Weaver Apiaries have some interesting articles. Organic Beekeepers Digest is a good forum if you prefer organic methods. Another place to find out information about local practices is to check with your state or county extension agency.
Zan Asha (Farmtopia) is one of our MJF farmgirl sisters. Earlier this year she did an online beekeeping class on Renegade Farmer's radio show. I believe you can still sign up for the internet version of the class at the Renegade Farmer website.
Hope this is helpful. Good luck with your new adventure!
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 |
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cntrygrl
True Blue Farmgirl
139 Posts
Tommie
Kansas
USA
139 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2010 : 12:45:24 PM
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So here's a couple of questions that will make or break my dream of bee's.
Some background. All of the land we have is used for pasturing our cows or hay meadows. Bee's would not enjoy the rumble of hay equipment near them so I know those are out. So that only leaves the pastures. There are a couple of spots that could work, but we spray our pastures for weeds.
1) Would the spray hurt the bees, in the sense of it being in the air near them, not directly on them?, and 2) Would spraying the weeds take away the resources of food for them?
Any thoughts on the issue?
~Live~Laugh~Love~ |
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country roads
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Melissa
Shinglehouse
Pa
USA
443 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2010 : 6:19:05 PM
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Marilyn, Thank you for giving suggestions for books. Now I will have to get busy and start looking for them. :)
Take care, Melissa.
Farmgirl # 352
~Think happy thoughts~ |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2010 : 9:40:00 PM
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Tommie, those are very good questions and it's great that you are thinking about this before you get bees rather than later!
How often would the hay harvesting equipment be used in the hay fields where there are no herbicide applications? If it's just for a day or so occasionally, the bees should not be bothered by it. If they are, you could always lock them in the hive the night before so they aren't flying on those days. We flail mow the pasture where I keep my bees several times during spring and summer and didn't have any trouble with them at all this year. I did suit up to string trim the area right around the hive but they didn't seem to mind at all.
Herbicides are not generally as dangerous to bee health as insecticides, but herbicide residues in the environment can still be carried back to the hive where they can persist in wax and honey for a long time. If weeds are sprayed before they or the desirable pasture crop are in bloom there is a lower risk of the bees foraging on those plants and contacting herbicide residue. But that doesn't eliminate the risk of the bees coming in contact with residues.
Bees will fly for several miles to find food and water, so as long as there are plenty of open spaces or other field crops blooming nearby the lack of blooming weeds on your property probably wouldn't be a problem.
More important would be what your personal tolerance for potential pesticide residues in your food crops are. Some people aren't concerned whereas others would avoid this scenario at all costs.
Hope this is helpful!
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 |
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cntrygrl
True Blue Farmgirl
139 Posts
Tommie
Kansas
USA
139 Posts |
Posted - Dec 05 2010 : 06:39:53 AM
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Thank you Marilyn, not only for the great book suggestions, but for making me not feel crazy. I only want bees if its going to make sense for me, and for them.
We hay in the summer and depending on rain and such, are normally in the meadow for a few days. We mow, then the hay dries, then it gets raked and baled. So if I were to lock them in, how many days could I do that for? Some of the tractors we use do not have cabs and I would not want anyone to get stung.
I guess I need to contact my extension office and see what information I can get. There aren't any local beekeepers that I know of, but they may know of some. Then if I get the answers I need and the go ahead for bee's I'll have a bazillion more questions when I start making my boxes. :)
Thanks Marilyn for the great information and for taking the time to help me work through this. I really appreciate it.
Mamacrunch & Melissa, I look forward to hearing about your adventures!
~Live~Laugh~Love~ |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Dec 05 2010 : 08:45:30 AM
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Unlike wasps and hornets, honey bees don't sting unless they are threatened and feel a need to protect themselves or their hive. The guard bees should only be agressive within a few yards of their hive. Honey bees will sting anywhere in their habitat if they get caught in your hair, or are trapped in a fold on a shirt sleeve, up a pant leg or anywhere else they don't belong. They will sometimes slam or bump into you if you are in their flight path but they just fumble around for a second and then head off in another direction without stinging. Otherwise, they won't bother you unless you bother them.
I can't imagine having to lock bees in the hive for mowing, raking or baling operations unless the bees are a really mean strain. My bees are Italians and they are such gentle creatures. I've worked in the garden tilling, weeding or harvesting when there are zillions of bees buzzing around on the crop I am working on and as long as you don't intentionally provoke them they just fly off to find another flower. My beekeeper friends work their bees without a bee suit unless they are harvesting the honey or taking the entire hive apart for maintenance which provokes bees to protect their hive. I have allergies so I'm much more cautious but I do feel safe around the bees without my suit on.
I don't think you would want to leave the bees locked up for more than one day at a time. You have to make sure that there is adequate ventilation through the entire hive and that it doesn't get too hot inside if the temperatures are warm outside. Honey bees do not relieve themselves in the hive, so they will need time to do cleansing flights after a period of lock down. And you will want to give them some time to gather nectar, water, and pollen to keep the temperature in the hive regulated as well as queen and babies fed. It might work best if you locked them up in the morning each day and then let them out in the afternoon for a few hours before dark. They will come back to the hive when it gets dark, so you could then block the entrance again.
Hope this helps!
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 |
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cntrygrl
True Blue Farmgirl
139 Posts
Tommie
Kansas
USA
139 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2010 : 1:42:17 PM
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All of your information is very helpul Marilyn! Although the bee's most likely wouldn't hurt anyone during hay season, b/c of a serious allergic reaction I wouldn't be able to take that risk. But that allows me to concentrate on the pastures we have that are possibilities. I will get with my extension office when I can.. You never know, there may be a beekeeper around that I don't know about. It would be great to get information this winter and get started come spring. Here's hoping!
Happy beekeeping!
Tommie
~Live~Laugh~Love~
~Dust is a country accent~ |
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Barnyard Buddies: Beekeeping Newbie |
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Beekeeping Newbie
