This is only my second year in bee keeping and I've come to realize there are at least two ways to do things related to bee keeping. The most common of these is the "hard way" ...... and the other is the "smart way". I've always tended to follow the cook book recipe to the letter and at best turn out "OK" meals. Often times this results in consuming a great deal of time, perhaps needlessly. There are quicker and better ways of doing things. Some efforts just don't provide a return that is proportional to the effort ..... there are better ways. By way of example, sanding, priming and then again sanding & priming a hive box, followed by applying two coats of high quality high cost exterior paint. (As compared to dipping the entire hive box several times in a tank of linseed oil, etc. or using less expensive paint.)
Having said all that, ..... are there things that you've learn along the way, where time can be saved (or better used) in the field of bee keeping? What things are really worth the extra effort and which actions are "optional"? I realize I'm asking for options, but it seems there are areas of bee keeping that are worthy of special efforts or attention to detail and others are not. Where is time and money best spent?
Regards,
Tucker1
Here are 3 links that can give you some insight into less work beekeeping with enviable results over time.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm)
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmorethan.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmorethan.htm)
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm)
Going through the broodbox more than 1 or 2 times a year for a checkup is a time-waster. Its ok when you start out and have one or 2 hives, but more than a few it gets way too much and makes the bees way to mad.
I find that too often the "smart way" is also the hardest way. :roll:
Sharpen your pencil early and often and plan your purchases on where you would like to be in a few years and not what will get you through until tomorow. Put a high dollar amount on time spent doing the parts that you do not enjoy and do the fun parts cheap... In short order you will learn just where you should spend your time and where you should get the job done as cheap as possible.
Don't waste time on supplies you need today if you know you are on the verge of out-growing them. buy with tomorow in mind.
I found that by the time I gave in and switched from bottom boards to pallets, I could have switched a long time ago and the forklift would have been covered by the savings in my time and material.