Reply #2: BeeKeepers here!!!

[bvar22]

Small Scale Decentralized Organic Bee Keeping is the answer.



Bare Naked Working Girls Up Close & Personal

In 2006, we moved from the Big Blue Northern City (Minneapolis)
to very the rural Deep South (Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas),
and planted a BIG Veggie Garden.

We started two colonies of European Honey Bees in Spring in 2007.
Neither of us had ANY experience with BeeKeeping.
Starkraven (my wife) got some books, and did a lot of research online.

She ordered the hive bodies online in the Winter of 2006.
Put them together and got everything ready.
The Bees arrived via US Mail in mid-April.
(The post office called at 7:30AM and asked us to pick them up ASAP)
She followed the directions and got them installed in the hives.

It was pretty scary at first.
Even with all the book learning, it is frightening to open a hive with 40,000 bees for the first time.
Luckily, Bees are very god at taking care of themselves,
and Starkraven instinctively did almost everything right,
which is mostly Leave them alone.


Later that year, we both joined our local BeeKeepers Association,
and we both recommend that to anyone considering keeping Honey Bees.
Nothing can replace fist hand experience,
and the local association is the best place to get it.

We put together these recommendation for anyone considering Keeping Bees:

1) Check in with you County Extension.
They are really helpful. There are some regulations concerning transportation, registration, and inspection, and there may be some local ordinances. They are also a great resource for latest research and new methods, pest & disease control. They can also facilitate state hive inspections.
We generally avoid government agencies where ever possible, and have never voluntarily registered anything, but we make an exception for our bees. The benefits FAR outweigh any downside.

2)Join you local Beekeepers Association.
These are some of the most laid back people you will ever meet. Starkraven and myself are not joiners, but we look forward to our monthly meetings with the "bee people". This is another valuable resource for local information concerning pests, honey flows, equipment and disreputable operators. You can also pick up some hands-on experience working around hives.
Make no mistake...it is scary opening a hive the first time.
You will also be able to pick up some free localized bees from you local bee keepers. (Healthy colonies EXPAND, and many local bee keepers have all they want and are more than happy to give them away).

3)Always use new equipment
There are some very persistent pests and diseases that can be transmitted through the equipment. Used equipment abounds at some very attractive prices.
It is not worth the risk in my opinion. If you join the local association, some will offer you old equipment for FREE, but we always politely turn it down.
New Equipment is very reasonable, and there are many wholesalers and retailers online.
We use Dadant, and have been very happy with them.

4)Don't use Flower Scented Deodorants or Fabric Softeners.
You would think this is Common Sense, but it took us a while to figure out WHY the bees wanted so badly to crawl under our arms. You really don't want to get stung there.

We have gotten very comfortable with our bees.
The collective intelligence and discipline of the hive is beyond awe.
The more we learn about them, the more fascinated we become.

Our colonies are about 20 yards from the backdoor, visible from the house. There are plenty of bees around our house and gardens, but they have never caused a problem with us or our pets. Neither of us has been stung outside of messing with the hives.
We inspect the hives about once/month or so during the Spring/Summer. It takes about 15 minutes per hive. During the Winter, we rarely open the hives. ...only enough to make sure they have food (sugar water).

Our bees are very gentle (Italian/All Stars). We always wear protective hoods and gloves and use a smoker, but rarely put on the full suit. We do get stung on rare occasions through the gloves or jeans, but it is no big deal anymore. I am considering trying BeeSting therapy for some arthritis in my hands .

While the bees are hardy and very good at taking care of themselves, they sometimes need some help.
We were lucky, and blundered through the first year on online research and love, but taking a course and joining the BeeKeepers Association has been invaluable, and we highly recommend it to anyone considering bees.

There are many websites that offer full starter kits online.
I believe we ordered our kit from Dadant, and are happy with them.
For the future, we will build our own hives.
Its easy.

A good site for Organic BeeKeeping, Bush Bees.
http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm
We don' agree with everything he does, but love his "the bees know best" approach.
Good Luck.