texasmama Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 I have two nucs coming from a local beekeeper's association I have joined. They will be here on June 10th. I have my beeboxes ready on a stand and have read Beekeeping for Dummies. I have the suit, gloves, a smoker, a hive tool and a bee brush. I have a chicken waterer and pollen substitute in the freezer. My mentor let me come play with her bees last week. (Well, they don't really play too much, but you know what I mean...) I am nervous and excited, kind of like when I was expecting a baby. :D I'm sure there are other folks here who are beekeepers with some advice/stories. :) P.S. We live on four acres so I have a nice, sunny spot for them out of the way of kid traffic areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Not a beekeeper, but I agree - it's funny! :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Welcome to the Hive! ;) I've been a bee keeper for about 4 years... it's very rewarding. We've learned so much about bees; they are amazing creatures. And bonus: free honey, wax, and propolis! Our first year we got 60 pounds of honey from a single hive. It was awesome. Congrats on your nucs and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Welcome to the Hive! ;) I've been a bee keeper for about 4 years... it's very rewarding. We've learned so much about bees; they are amazing creatures. And bonus: free honey, wax, and propolis! Our first year we got 60 pounds of honey from a single hive. It was awesome. Congrats on your nucs and good luck! Wow - 60 pounds! I am hoping for lots of honey. Do you sell your excess? Who does the primary beekeeping? In our house, this is my project. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 I'm the beekeeper here, too. :) You will build up some upper body strength for sure-- a honey super filled with honey weighs a ton! I barter and/or give a lot of honey away to friends and family (wool and homemade pickles are my favorite things to get in return :D). We also use a lot of ours up; I like to cook and bake with it in place of sugar when I can. If you're interested in selling, sometimes local places-- health food stores, feed stores etc. will sell off your excess for you. YMMV :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 I'm a former beekeeper. We lost our last hive last year right before we moved, and don't really have a great spot for them in our new yard. I still have several frames in my freezer with comb and honey on them in hopes of having a starter for our next bees. Alas, I think I need to give up and say we're not going to have bees for the foreseeable future. I got 1/2 a steer coming so I really need the room too. I was the main beekeeper too. But I didn't really do it for the honey, I liked the idea of helping the bee population. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 we have bees. We have 6 hives. We have been keeping bees for about 3 years. We absolutely love having bees. DH and I do the bees together, it is lots of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 I have two hives! This is my second season. I put in a new hive this spring. My dad's been a bee keeper for a while so he's kind of my mentor. I got brave through when I could wear my new full body bee suit. I'm the only bee person. Last season we had 1 hive and we got 8 quarts. DH loves to eat honey on crackers, I bake, and when the kids have sore throats we use it. I cant eat it because I'm diabetic. I do it for the bee stings for my arthritis, and for ingredients for making lotions, lip balms, and soaps that I have yet to make but I have all the supplies! :laugh: Waiting for a rainy week or the return of winter. Propolis!!! What to do with it. Where to sell it? I've got a five gallon pail full that was given to me from the person I bought my used equipment. They said I could sell it in the raw form for $60/lb but they didn't have a source. Hmmmmm, thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 I'd put the propolis on Craigslist and see. How about other beekeepers? Are you on a local beekeeping list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Thanks for sharing stories and experience (and enthusiasm!). I have thought of selling the wax. I don't think I have time to make my own beeswax products, but I'm sure others would like to have it. I don't yet have the honey extractor thingie because I was told that the bees need all the honey from this year since they are new colonies. I may borrow one next year. I've watched youtube videos, and it seems simple enough. Tell me about bee stings for arthritis. I have not heard of that. I am member of a local beekeeping association which is large and active. I have read Beekeeping for Dummies. Any other good resources that I should know about? Thanks for talking bees with me! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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