New Beek from Southern Middle TN

[MsCarol]

Howdy!!!!
Brand new to the forum so still stumbling around. Brand new to bee keeping that began when I received a frantic call from a neighbor this last May asking if I still wanted bees. That there was a swarm in their bushes. Not having a clue what I was doing, I managed to capture it and get them settled into one of the hives I had purchased several years before my spouse passed away.
A bit about myself, I am widowed 3 years now. The late hubby had worked bees as a teen in the mid '50s, before I was even born. He always said he wanted to show me how, but as far as we ever got was to purchase the equipment - medium 8 frame hives and beginners kit. I had to replace the "kit" this spring after a house fire destroyed most everything. The hives were in a different building thankfully.
I run (or try to) a cattle ranch as my profession. Have about a 60-70 cow herd running on 600 acres along with far too many horses. There are a few goats, poultry and my rather large pack of mutts ...and a few cats.
Always a bit of a homesteader at heart and an avid gardener, bees were something I have wanted to try despite being terrified as a child of stinging insects.
So I am essentially learning by reading profusely and "on the job training". A couple weeks ago a different neighbor contacted me with a small swarm in his yard. Successfully managed to get that one home as well and it is trying to build in the second hive. I am sure I will have many questions concerning getting that one through the winter.
My biggest recent thrill was I finally saw the queen of the bigger hive. They sure can move fast!!!
So I hope you all can put up with me and many stupid questions. I now will buckle down and start reading. One member here already cleared up some of my confusion as to bee behavior via their blog before I started to panic that there was something really wrong. This IS farming country and spraying is common.

MsCarol in presently soggy southern middle TN

[hjon71]

Howdy Neighbor. Welcome to Beemaster.

[tefer2]

Welcome to the forum MsCarol.

[Joe D]

Welcome to the forum, Ms Carol.  You may want to join a local bee club also, they can bee a big help.  If you have any questions, just post em here, someone will give you an answer.  Good luck to you and your bees.




Joe

[mikecva]

Welcome to the forum.  :cheer:   -Mike

[beeman2009]

Welcome from Northern Middle TN. Wish you well. Ask any questions you like. The only stupid/dumb questions are the ones you don't ask.  :-D This is a nice place to find good answers.

[TNBeeLady]

Welcome MsCarol!  I'm also in soggy middle TN (Woodbury). This is definitely the site to ask questions, & to just read & learn.  You'll enjoy it!

[JPinMO]

Welcome, MsCarol; you sound like one tough cookie! Running a farm and surviving a house fire, God love ya!

And, DEFINITELY find your local Bee Club(s); you should be able to find some local help, and hopefully a mentor!

[GSF]

Welcome - a little late on my behalf.

[adkotahajesban]

Welcome to the forums!

[hiram.ga.bee.man]

A warm welcome to the forum. There its truly a wealth of information here and experienced beekeepers willing to share knowledge.

[BeeMaster2]

Welcome to the forum MsCarol. Don't think that your question are stupid, we all probably asked someone the same ones some where along the line. Someone else helped u and now we can do the same. It's called pass it forward.

It is better to be soggy than bone dry. Costs a whole lots less to feed our cattle when it is soggy than when it is bone dry.  :) Last year it was so dry that my 1 acre pond dropped more than 4 feet, even the dry hydrant pipe was in the air. This year it has been over flowing a lot.  :-D Last year I was buying hay and feed, this year they cannot keep the grass down and pick only the choosiest parts.
Jim