It is interesting to look at the topic "How many hives to make a living"
Only 31 replies but 28,000 plus views, alot of interested people but few comments.
It is a good way to make a living in our area of Oz, well most years, this year is extremely tough, poor weather and poor honey flow.
It is a natural for supplemental income during retirement. It is not until you dive into the details that you find it is no different then any other farming endeavor.
Quote from: Oldbeavo on December 05, 2022, 01:51:15 AM
It is interesting to look at the topic "How many hives to make a living"
Only 31 replies but 28,000 plus views, alot of interested people but few comments.
It is a good way to make a living in our area of Oz, well most years, this year is extremely tough, poor weather and poor honey flow.
Yes their has been many views since the topic
"How many hives to make a living" was first posted almost ten years ago...
As your shared in your experiences of making a living with bees, there is more than just honey sales involved, the sale of bees, pollination, soap, lip balm, candles, and other bee products...
Some good comments shared on that topic in my opinion....
Phillip
Hi Acebird
IMO, the difference between migratory BK'ing and farming is that you don't have the capital outlay on land. To me that is what makes bees more profitable.
Also, return per hive is better than livestock, most of the time a hive will pay for itself in one year.
Quote from: Oldbeavo on December 05, 2022, 02:20:23 PM
Hi Acebird
IMO, the difference between migratory BK'ing and farming is that you don't have the capital outlay on land. To me that is what makes bees more profitable.
Also, return per hive is better than livestock, most of the time a hive will pay for itself in one year.
Most farms were handed down and got smaller by divvying up amongst errs. As the pieces got bought up by corporations the small farms disappeared. This same scenario occurs in beekeeping or any other business. The difference between general farming of animals and beekeeping is that framing is dealing with tame animals and beekeeping is not.
You both bring up interesting points of views. A good example of a family operation which farms, keeps bees (on a large scale), and also ranches. Is Ian Steppler from Canada. These three branches of agriculture endeavors seem to work well for he and his family....
Oldbeavo, I particularly appreciate and enjoy reading of your experiences in your Commercial Migratory Beekeeping operation here at Beemaster... Thank you for contributing....
Phillip
I consider our bees relatively tame, most of my stings are from having bare fingers in the wrong spot.
Having dairy farmed in a previous time, the cows are tame because you cull those who have temperament issues.
For Phillip
One part of migratory BK'ing is finding the next potential flow, we have done about 1200k in the last few days looking for trees. You see a lot of the country.
I bet it is beautiful country at that... 😊
Phillip