New beekeeping with AZDuffman

I've now wasted about 5-6 hours reading all about beekeeping. Fascinating. Maybe if I move to a larger property it might be worth pursuing, or maybe I can talk to my church about setting up a couple of hives on their property. The congregation would be buzzing!!!

Quote: boymimbo

I've now wasted about 5-6 hours reading all about beekeeping. Fascinating. Maybe if I move to a larger property it might be worth pursuing, or maybe I can talk to my church about setting up a couple of hives on their property. The congregation would be buzzing!!!

You do not need much space, people in Manhattan keep them on rooftops. You will want 5-10' of clearance in front at most so they can fly in and out. Otherwise the issue is how much space you need to work the hive.

5-6 hours? Nice. It is a good hobby. My best advice is find a local one-day course you can take, well, well worth the time.

I have a friend who keeps hives who I will talk to. And I will see if the church has any interest in housing bees. It's good for the community, good for the environment and a good team building exercise.

MINI-MIDWINTER UPDATE

For those not in the northeast, it is very nice up here today. So nice I wondered if there would be any activity outside the hive. Looked twice, nothing. But a third look and a forager was returning. She was having a hard time landing in the wind, but she was out there!

This is very good news as it means the hive is still alive at the mid-point of winter. I cannot open it to look without killing everything. I could not hear buzzing when I put my ear to the hive and I have no stethoscope to listen. This is all I have, in a way more "real" than a stethoscope or some kind of camera inside there.

If I am lucky I can split the hive this year.

Quote: AZDuffman

I could not hear buzzing when I put my ear to the hive and I have no stethoscope to listen. This is all I have, in a way more "real" than a stethoscope or some kind of camera inside there.

Could you put a traffic cone on the hive to listen? Those are easy to come by. Each new reg. makes all the old cones obsolete.


Came across this article, I am saying this is a lucrative niche: http://theantimedia.org/someone-figured-out-how-to-train-bees-to-make-honey-from-cannabis/

I saw a link lately saying that all the bees in AZ. have become Africanized?

Bees, [small African looking ones] are working my fruit trees already, [trees are in bloom] oranges and grapefruit blossoms smell wonderful. Our patio smells like living in a Gardenia for a month. Reminds me, I should refresh my Benedryll and check into an epi[sp?] pen.

Quote: petroglyph

Could you put a traffic cone on the hive to listen? Those are easy to come by. Each new reg. makes all the old cones obsolete.

I'd just get a cheapo stethoscope. If I do anything at all. The ladies appear to have made it and had decent in and out the last warm day we had. That should mean the queen is laying and there is already a slow population build. Will not know until early April.

Quote:

Came across this article, I am saying this is a lucrative niche: http://theantimedia.org/someone-figured-out-how-to-train-bees-to-make-honey-from-cannabis/

I supposed that was only a matter of time! Not sure if it will get the effect they want.

Quote:

I saw a link lately saying that all the bees in AZ. have become Africanized?

Bees, [small African looking ones] are working my fruit trees already, [trees are in bloom] oranges and grapefruit blossoms smell wonderful. Our patio smells like living in a Gardenia for a month. Reminds me, I should refresh my Benedryll and check into an epi[sp?] pen.

They probably are. Africanized bees have the name "killer bees" and it is somewhat over-hyped. They are more aggressive than European bees and they make much larger hives. That is why they were brought to the west to begin with IIRC, to breed in the larger hives and breed out the aggressiveness. Then some guy let them loose.

They are all over from S. America to the southern USA. Ask your doctor about the pen just because. However, they are not going to see you and chase you like in a cartoon.

Meanwhile I just learned I need to buy a new honey-super for MY honey. Money is a tad tight still so also trying to decide if I want a whole second hive to split mine into. Tax time will be the factor. I hope so much I get honey. I want the wax even more for projects but I keep getting asked about the honey.Might get a guy I know to come over here and help bottle so I can get some pics for the update.

Spring is almost here! Watch here and the DIY thread, I have a feeling I will have quite a few updates.

I guess they are trying to make "stoner" honey? IDK why. There is already plenty of thc infused honey at the dispensaries.

I thought the african bees were developed in South America because they produced 30% more honey and the queens hatch 3 days faster allowing them to take over hives from European bees?

I have used bee's wax to lubricate zippers on survival suits and also on sawzall blades when cutting aluminum. I also have chapstick made with it.

Best of luck to you on the honey.

Are you known as a Bee Wrangler? Getting called to remove bees from unwanted locations might give you more free hives.

Do you know how Williams is doing in Northern Arizona......... ten off grid acres of Lavender and Bees but he couldn't make it off grid his first year and put out the word for funding in return for product?

Are bees attracted to forage at the sex organs of a fungus?

Quote: petroglyph

I guess they are trying to make "stoner" honey? IDK why. There is already plenty of thc infused honey at the dispensaries.

I thought the african bees were developed in South America because they produced 30% more honey and the queens hatch 3 days faster allowing them to take over hives from European bees?

I have used bee's wax to lubricate zippers on survival suits and also on sawzall blades when cutting aluminum. I also have chapstick made with it.

Best of luck to you on the honey.

Thanks on the luck wish. The bees were not "developed" but the were imported to try to get the bonuses you point out but needed to be tamed down. They were let loose by mistake and once out that was the end of that.

I cannot overstate how much I am waiting for the wax. Why were you using a sawsall to cut aluminum??

Quote: AZDuffman

Why were you using a sawsall to cut aluminum??

Fabricating ,wrecking, or salvaging at speed.

Love the sawzall for access in lousy positions. Down in boat bilge's. Reaching out doing wrecking work, making one handed, but not fine cuts. Band saw blades are expensive if you tweak them, sawzall blades are cheap.

With an assortment of blades, throw one on the truck or in the boat and be able to cut anything. A hand held hack saw is so passe. A lot of my work was production,,,not detail oriented.

Look over into one of those electrical substations. I used to contract those. A sawzall fits in that maze.

I have a band saw which does nicer work if required? Dynamite, axe, torch, I will use anything to achieve my stated goal : )