Hi All,
New here and was just talking to my friend about his apple orchard in Michigan that was fruitless this year do to lack of bee pollination. So I got to thinking and thought I might need a new hobby so why not bee keeping. Was interested in learning more about it and was curious if there are some good online resources to explore before I head out and buy some boxes.
Additionally I heard that some people get grants from the government to set up hives, is this true?
Any help would be great, and if there is already a thread with all this info please just post below and I am happy to read up there.
Casi
The most extensive online resource for treatment free beekeeping is probably my site:
bushfarms.com
There is also a lot here:
beeuntoothers.com
And there is an organicbeekeepers list on Yahoo:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Organicbeekeepers (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Organicbeekeepers)
A lot of good info here:
http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/ (http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/)
There are a lot of people on this forum who don't treat and are happy to help.
I would second Bushfarms.com. Also in book form if you prefer. All you need to keep bees, whether you are just starting or a few years in and experimenting with queen rearing and different equipment, etc.
The Idiots Guide to Beekeeping is also a good how to for a beginner.
the library here
http://bees.library.cornell.edu/b/bees/browse.html (http://bees.library.cornell.edu/b/bees/browse.html)