Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

Just wondering, is anyone keeping bee's?

I'm considering trying to keep a couple of hives, not so much for the honey, but for pollination for my plants and vegetables.

Any info and experience would truly be appreciated.:2738:

Thanks in advance....

Snookie

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

This something I am interested in too for the same reasons.

Snookie do a Google search on Top Bar Hive. It is designed to help the bees and not for honey production. That is the direction I want to go.

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

WOW thanks, I like dat me!:}

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

I used to have a few hives many many moons ago; today we just maintain a hefty patch of "bee food" plants, mint in particular seems very popular with our local buzzers.
Last season the GF had ripped out a lot of the mint & our "local" bees had taken to visiting the hummingbird feeders, much to the dismay of the hummers & the GF.
I started to supply the bees with their own feeder & sugar water; they prefer a much sweeter mix than the hummers so whipping up a preferred bee snack was easy.
This season we have about 4x the amount of mint going, along with passiflora, jasmine, tobacco & runner beans that all seem to be in a near constant state of blossoming, so the bees have lots of food.

I still keep being tempted to set up a couple more hives though, but really don't need the extra work load. Looking at the current prices is enough to finish convincing me, & the near-constant bee shortage is another good deterrent.
Nobody has offered me a free swarm though, one of my former excellent sources of bees.
Once you have a couple empty hives, have your veil & smoker handy; post notes on bulletin boards at your local grocery, hardware, & building supply stores for "free" bee swarm removal.
A lot of times folks will come across hives inside walls during remodeling, just verify that the critters are actually honey bees & not plain old hornets, yellowjackets or other critters that don't produce any honey.

I've had many a fun ride in a car full of bees, just wishing I'd get pulled over for one of those "routine traffic stops". ;)


If you need any "old" books on beekeeping; the "internet archive" has a pile of out-of-copyright material.
Have a look-see: Internet Archive Search: beekeeping

They've also got a good assortment of grafting books & very many of the materials & techniques have gone unchanged over the past hundred years or so.

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

Top Bar Bee Hives in particular...

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

Here is a couple good sites for TBH.

Michael Bush's website is The Practical Beekeeper, Beekeeping Naturally, Bush Bees, by Michael Bush

Phil Chandler at natural beekeeping

Both these guys are willing to help.

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

Thank U Sir

headed to the links to read:}

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

Hi, I bought this year six swarms of bees for honey and pollination primarily,what exactly are you interested? how can you get a swarm or how to maintain a bee?
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Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

Thanks, I'm simply trying to figure which option to use for keeping bees in as natural a way of as well as inexpensive as possible.

I like the idea of the Top Bar Hives, not only for the cost but as well as size.

Don't want to be in the Honey Business however; would like to pollinate my plants and veggies while possibly supplying the family with natural honey.

Plus I know the grandkids would enjoy seeing the process.

Also it think the process and activity would keep my seasoned body and mind occupied lol

USE it or Lose it, I plan on using it up:}:08:

Re: Anyone KEEPING BEE'S?
 

Thanks,

10-69 on the water sources, I have a pond, I think they will simply love to help them keep their tongue's from getting to parched:}

Thanks also for the encouragement, I can't wait to get going :woohoonaner: