Any beekeepers? We started last year, yielded 120lbs from the golden rod and two hives. We added 4 morethis spring, we bought two, split one and the fourth was a swarm from our one hive. Rough first spring after a mild winter. We had about 60lbs of clover honey this spring. Right now, the girls are working that golden rod again. Hoping for 200+- lbs this fall. People say beekeeping is work, but the bees do all the work, as what little time we have put in seems like a cakewalk so far.
Thought about it, but have not managed to find a good location. At my kids school they keep bees and we always buy it when they harvest. There is nothing like the taste of pure Honey and according to the experts the local fresh stuff is very healthy since it contains many enzymes that die during factory processing. Secondly the bees feast on local flowers and therefore their Honey contains these too - scientist suggest that this may aid to prevent hay fever. Now I am not too much focused on the health claims but combining health and delicacy can't be bad. Now if we could just find scientific evidence about the benefits of bacon
Raw honey has lots of health benefits. Yes local honey can have pollens or other allergens that work similar to allergy shots. Processed honey is basically just sugar. Alot if it is also from China where it can be 50℅ cane sugar. They make a noticeable difference on the garden as well. You can keep bees almost anywhere I know there is a NYC bee keeping club.
Only got about 90 lbs. Two 5 gallon buckets. Kinda of disappointed since last year only two hives did 120. I think it was the cool weather. The bees love the heat and it was a cooler summer.
We've been playing around with keeping bees for about 5-6 years now. We've had really good luck with yields of honey. We've had pretty mixed results with overwintering. Here's some healthy hives from a few springs ago.
How are the mites down by you? Ate those two deeps? Medium and a deep? I like the lids and have thought of similar.
Lots of mites. 2 deeps. I think this was shortly after we installed packages, so the upper is just a feeder, no frames. The lids are stock items from Brushy mountain.
We've been keeping bees for along time. It is work when you are pulling honey supers off 100 colonies in 85 to 90 some heat and 90+% humidity. Even collecting swarms isn't all that easy when it is hot. Took 3 days between thunder storms in high humidity to remove these bees from a Geo Home. Uncapping in a hot honey house with a hot knife is no fun either even though you get to lick your fingers a lot. has to be done to fill the 72 frame extractor Early spring time I build our own hive bodies, honey supers inter and outer covers and screen bottom boards. Don't let any one tell you a honey bee will not sting thru a surgical glove. We also raise our own queens. Al
We peddle it like crack on Facebook lol. Most country stores already have the big commercial guys honey. I've pondered co- ops but it ain't $15 a jar that way.
I'm sure most beekeepers already know this, but I learned an interesting bit of trivia yesterday. I was told that the average bee only makes ~1/12 teaspoon of honey during its whole life! Wow...takes a megaton of bees to keep up with worldwide demand, eh?
That is why a full scale colony contains about 90,000 bees at peek summer time populations and is a sorry colony they doesn't have at least 50,00 when the spring flow starts. Al
I'd like to get into bees have for a couple years. Now that we live out in the country its alot more feasible. I sell maple syrup and I always get the question " do you sell honey" I'd like to get into it for more then that aspect though. It's just convincing my wife!! I'd like to get a hive or two. Any suggestions on convincing the wife and how many to start with?
Hey you could tell her "I bet we could get some more funds in the "honey I went shopping at the shoe today" account....
Honey bees are kept almost everywhere! At elevation the cold would be a concern with available food! Start with two, that way you can compare how they do against each other(feeding foraging some are angry some are gentle) and it will give you a better chance of making it your first year. I sell syrup and honey! Honey outsells syrup. It also IMO much more profitable small or professional scale. People are always asking for honey. I have to discount sryup with the purchase of honey to get rid of the syrup. Reasons to have them are.... Arthritis... Some studies suggest bee keepers genneraly don't get Arthritis! (Venom) They are excellent pollinator good for gardens! Peach cherry and other fruit trees! Want a bumper crop like you have never seen? Get bees. Honey especially local has a huge list of health benefits! It's also something (hobby) you can do and learn together!
