Beekeeping it’s the bee’s knees

Something I'd like to get into if I ever buy my own place and the climate allows for it. They are very interesting.

 

Just went to there site to see if they ship

 

Jtcmedic --I kept bees for over 25 years (with a small break due to retirement). There is a LOT of money in honeybee's --your money!! I loved it and always told folks it was a hobby that hurts! I lost 17 hives during a winter storm a few years back and never got back into it. It really is fun and you will never know all there is to beekeeping --it really is a complicated subject when you get into the details. IF you think humans are incharge of this plant --learn about how miraculous honeybees are. Enjoy your hobby! (Photo of me capturing a hive from one of my mentors just after he passed away!!)

 

I thought about honey bees but it seemed like it was time consuming...

 

I'm about to finish my introductory to beekeeping class through the local Ag Extension office. It's been a fascinating class and I was luckily selected as one of the recipients for the Cost-Share program. The state and Ag Extension awarded me two complete Langstroth 10 frame deeps w/ medium supers, frames, and two packages of bees! I am stoked!

Also, a local buddy of mine heard me talking about it and said he had some bee equipment I could have as he didn't have the space for it anymore since he was apartment-bound and no longer had land. I was thinking a few of the accessories... but he gave me his whole kit. Four deeps with frames, two honey supers, a Flow hive, smoker, jacket, veil, and hive tool. I was blown away... he refused any payment and was happy to see someone putting it all to use.

Maybe I can start a mobile beehive business...

 

I am truly in aw of these little insects an what they do.

 

That is great with two hives you can see how differently they build and respond to the area. Wish they have this in my area.

 

Going in the hive tomorrow will see how they are doing

 

I had a couple of the neighbors honey bees pay me a visit today...Nothing for them to pollinate but wondered why they were out and about...

 

Looking for some food in your winter wonderland.

 

I guess...I will need them later though when my fruit trees start blooming and the garden gets going. For now they will have to wait...

 

Well hives are building well no pics today

 

Been working with bees for 14+ years. Best part was driving up and down hills with 600+ lbs of honey in the 4 banger.

 

That is awesome how many hive? Would kill to have more then 12, taking a year to produce some honey

 

We've had an apiary for almost 5 years now. Had 13 hives but not sure how they weathered the winter - the weather last year here was really rainy and we ended up throwing a bunch of swarms as they got stir crazy in the hives. We've ordered 6 nucs and hope to get back to at least 10 or 12 hives this spring.

In all that time, I've only been stung twice - and both were when I was cutting grass and a bee flew into my hair and got caught and panicked.

Suited up - taken by our hive camera.




My wife - we had just captured a swarm that ended up in the wall of her mother's garage. We were looking for the queen.



A bucket from this past fall's honey.

 

Im lucky. I get to work with bees for a job, but not as a honey producer/pollination service but rather I work as a research technician at our university here in Hawaii. Arguably one of the best places to keep bees. This was a pic from a few years ago from our research apiary in February when in most places the bees are still overwintering. Most of the hives here produce about 100 lbs of harvestable honey per hive per year (we leave about 30lbs on the hive for "winter"). However I talked with some of our big producers and they said they can get up to 300-350 lbs per year! Amazing.

 

That is awesome, university of Florida here is big on research. And I was in my bee building up in February, it is amazing the production of 350 lbs.

 

I wish I only got 2 stings. Don’t even feel them now unless the face that hurts. Pa been wet and cold. Have family up in halstead

 

I am guessing my homeowner's association would frown upon me getting into this...

 

You would be surprised. Can’t hurt to ask. A lot of people keep in city settings