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Barnyard Buddies:  Any beekeeping farmgirls?  |
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Lindsay C
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Lindsay
Rogersville
AL
USA
117 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 05:21:56 AM
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I'm thinking about getting some bees for our farm. Are any of you experienced with this? I have some questions. And also, are any of you able to make any money from your bees? I would love to be able to make a little extra cash, if possible. Thanks! :)
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452
http://crowsonshire.blogspot.com |
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MamaBulla
True Blue Farmgirl
209 Posts
Kris
Midland
NC
USA
209 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 06:38:31 AM
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Good luck, Lindsay! I'm a newbie, too, so I'll be watching this thread in hopes of lots of good info! I took the Beekeeping class down in Florida and got my hive body and frames, but then we found out we were moving to NC, so I just moved everything here. I'm now signed up for the beekeeping class here at our county extension services and plan on setting up my first hive in April. I'm excited!!
Kris B.
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Farmgirl Sister #3679
Blog: farmgirlby40.wordpress.com
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Lindsay C
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Lindsay
Rogersville
AL
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 07:39:13 AM
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I'm excited too. I'm just starting to really do a lot of research on it, so it may not be this spring that I'm able to get the bees. But I'm hoping to go ahead and get the hives, get them assembled, etc. I haven't thought about taking a class, but now that you've mentioned it, I'm going to start looking for one to take. It would be nice to meet some local folks doing the same thing. Good luck!!
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452
http://crowsonshire.blogspot.com |
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forgetmenot
True Blue Farmgirl
3602 Posts
Judith
Nora Springs
IA
USA
3602 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 09:44:01 AM
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It must be the time of year when Extension sets up their bee classes. We are having them here also. We used to have just 3 hives. Loved it. My DH did all the work. The honey was wonderful! That's when we learned the difference in taste was in where they pollinated. I tried some from soy beans..no flavor. Once our bees swarmed, we didn't get more. Sold the hives to a new homesteader up the road. It's still fun to drive by their place and see our hives. There was a local beekeeper who loved to invite people to his house to see his bees inside his house. He had one of those sliding shelf cupboard hives. You could see the bees working behind glass. Really cool. That's also when I fell in love with beeswax.
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 11:35:05 AM
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By the way, I should probably mention that, if you are getting into keeping to sell honey, you should check with your extension office and city/county laws as to whether you can sell your raw honey, or honey, and what certifications and regulations there are with selling honey and bee products, as some places do require certification, or have restrictions on this...
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View My Work:
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www.beyondvagabond.blogspot.com
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 1:27:11 PM
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We really wanted to start a hive this spring, but our neighbor who kept 5 hives has had all of them killed off, so we are waiting a year.
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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Lindsay C
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Lindsay
Rogersville
AL
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 5:50:28 PM
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Just checked on classes but I won't be able to take the next round of them due to my work schedule. I'm so disappointed! Guess I will have to prepare on my own. What are some of you guys favorite bee keeping books?
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452
http://crowsonshire.blogspot.com |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
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Heather B
True Blue Farmgirl
562 Posts
Heather
Longmont
Colorado
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 6:44:01 PM
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I just started keeping bees this last spring. I am using a Bar Top hive now and this spring hope to add three more hives, traditional langstroth hives, I live in the city and I am allowed four hives in my yard. It's been fun and interesting. I hope to harvest some honey and bees wax for cooking and crafting with.
Heather
http://homesteadincity.blogspot.com/
http://littlehouseonthebumper.blogspot.com/ (My "glamper" page)
"Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty"
Farm Girl Sister #662 |
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artfulsister
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Terri
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2012 : 8:26:57 PM
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I am interested as well in learning about beekeeping. I didn't know about the city having classes so I will look that up! Yay!
Bees have always fascinated me. I don't have a fear of being stung, so I guess that helps : )
When ever I share with others that I want to keep bees they all grimace!
Thanks Lindsay for starting this thread!
Hugs,
Terri
artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com
Every day is a new opportunity for joy! |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2012 : 05:44:28 AM
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For an alternative method of keeping bees that is more in line with their natural method of hive management, you can also look up these two sites:
www.biobees.com
www.warre.biobees.com
We have both Top Bar Hives and a Warre Hive. I tend to like the Warre Hive better, but my bees in the Top Bar Hives are doing great.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
Edited by - StrawHouseRanch on Jan 10 2012 05:45:06 AM |
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artfulsister
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Terri
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2012 : 3:46:26 PM
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Thank you Paula for these two great links. I am enjoying looking at them.
Hugs,
Terri
artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com
Every day is a new opportunity for joy! |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 11:01:16 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Farmtopia
Yikes! That doesn't seem nice! May I ask why your neighbor had the hives killed off? My guess is disease?
He didn't do it on purpose, they all got "CCD" or "Colony Collapse Disorder" which is just what scientists call any and everything that kills off a hive. He wanted specifics, and they refused to give him any more (better) info. Really sad. After 20+ years with the bees, he's decided he's done and he has to burn his boxes just in case. We'll wait for whatever it was to have a good cold winter before we start up. This winter is not adequate to kill off some stuff!
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 6:03:27 PM
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Bee Culture is a really good central site and magazine about beekeeping and the honey industry. You can also sign up for The Buzz newsletter, which will keep you informed about all of the things going on in the news about beekeeping, including studies about all of those mysterious things that cause entire bee populations to die off and some of the intriguing real-life stories about honey smuggling, honey trans-shipping practices of other countries and beehive sabotage of competing beekeepers.
http://www.beeculture.com/index.cfm
http://www.beeculture.com/buzz/
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
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Barnyard Buddies: Any beekeeping farmgirls? |
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Any beekeeping farmgirls?
