Greetings from the First Coast of Florida

[OPJohn]

Hey guys. In a further attempt at learning more about my first passion (making quality meads), my Wife has bit the holiday bullet and purchased one of those new fangled flow hives for me. I guess she figured that if I was going to begin producing a quality mead product on a very small semi-commercial scale, that I should start at the source. Maybe it was all of the new friends we were introduced to at the Florida Beekeepers Association's annual convention (we were invited to fill in with a short presentation about our meadery). Maybe it was being surrounded by easy going vendors and enthusiastic beekeepers. Maybe it was all of the mead we drank afterwards... all of the sudden, my Wife decided that I needed a new all consuming hobby. I love my Wife. Thanks honey.

So, here I am... in North Florida. Making mead, building a meadery from the ground up and now i'm staring at a flow hive. But don't worry. I have a lot of apiary friends in the area that are advising me as I explore the rabbit hole that surely is beekeeping. They've already convinced me to put the flow hive to the test next to a standard Langstroth hive and are helping me with equipment selections and a few boxes of bees. I see where Michael Bush is a member here, and that's always a good thing as I have come to develop a deep respect for the advice on his website and companion book, The Practical Beekeeper. I have a few other reference books as well (Dummies book, Storey's Keeping Honeybees, Beekeepers Lament, etc.).  I'm hoping that, as i'm sure to have lots of mistakes to make and plenty to learn, that I can get more involved in the Q&A here at the forum.

So, hello there. I sure hope I don't get stung. Wait, whut?

;)

[BeeMaster2]

Welcome to Beemaster John.
Where in N FL are you located?
Jim

[Maggiesdad]

Welcome!

[KeyLargoBees]

Welcome to the Forum OP!

[Rurification]

Welcome to the forum!   Lots of fabulous people and great help here.

[OPJohn]

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys.

Welcome to Beemaster John.
Where in N FL are you located?
Jim

Jim,

We're in the town of Orange Park, on a little over a half acre of land that borders Johnson's Slough near Drs. Lake. I see that you're in Jacksonville, so I might see you at one of the Jacksonville Beekeepers Society's meetings. I'll be attending my first meeting on the 13th this month. 

-John

[mikecva]

Welcome.
Please add  Orange Park FL to your profile so we can better help you.  -Mike

[OPJohn]

Mike,

Done. :)

[BeeMaster2]

John,
I plan on attending. I will probably bee with my son. He is in an electric wheelchair and he has a service dog. We will be easy to deco ivied.
Jim

[OPJohn]

John,
I plan on attending. I will probably bee with my son. He is in an electric wheelchair and he has a service dog. We will be easy to deco ivied.
Jim

I'll see you there Jim.

[GSF]

Welcome