new to beekeeping

[Baughman]

ok so you guys are probably thinking im stupid but i have a bunch of questions... i am wanting to get into beekeeping because i own almond orchards and i wanto to do it to save me money and its a good bussiness oppurtunity also... i was wanting to now how to get started and when the best time to start beekeeping..how mush am i looking at to get started etc

[iddee]

>>>>ok so you guys are probably thinking im stupid<<<<

Well, you are asking how to keep thousands of stinging insects in little boxes, getting stung regularly, and spending more money for more of them when they die.........  :roll:

OK, so join the rest of us stupids and get ready for a great ride.  :-D

Start by using the search function. There are 188 thousand posts on the forum and most questions have been answered at least a hundred times. If you don't find all the answers, then ask individual questions here and we will answer them again.

Next, put your location in your profile, as many answers will be dependent on where you live.

Welcome, you are among a lot of stupid insect handlers who are more than ready to share what they don't know.

[hardwood]

First off post your location, that'll help local beeks when it comes to answering specific questions you may have! How big is your grove (orchard)? How many hives do you think you'll need?

It takes LOTS of time, TLC, and cash to build a big enough apiary to pollinate a large operation. In other words it's a full time job in and of itself and it doesn't just go away during the off season. I know quite a few commercial keepers that struggle to keep anywhere from several hundred to thousands of hives. It takes lots of equipment, lots of help with labor, and lots of dedication.

You'll have to either spend several years building up your hive count or shell out some pretty big bucks to start out big. If I was you I'd check into it a lot deeper through your local bee clubs and talk to any commercial beekeepers before you jump in this direction. You need to make sure you're ready for such a big commitment!

Scott

[Jim134]

Give location and How big is the almond orchards (in acres) you  own ?


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

[Baughman]

i am from bakersfield , CA..we own about 360 acres of almonds..im not planning on having all the hives this year or anytime soon but i would eventually like to be able to have enough one day for it.

[iddee]

I would suggest finding a migrant worker that is experienced in bees, offer him year round employment including, but not limited to, beekeeping. Then talk to some of the commercial beeks bringing in bees to the groves in early 2010. The cheapest you will ever buy them is when they are ready to leave the groves.

Also, study online, in the library, at local bee clubs, and local beek apiaries between now and then.

[Jim134]

Fruit trees are about 2 to 2 1/2  hives per acre. Do not know about nut trees.



   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

[mathispollenators]

I would say the best way to get started is to buy out a small operation of about 100 to 200 hives.  When to start would be probably be right after the almond season when bees are cheaper there.  How much money is depending on really what you want and what you have beekeeping equipment is high.  Some move bees around so trucks lifts and such are involved while others keep them in one place all year doing well without the expence of moving them.  But buying out someone would be my best advice because all that stuff would probably be enough to have you up and running.  And that number of hives would be enough to do your almond crops some good with it taking about 2 or 3 hive per acre you only need rent for part of the trees you have now next year.  Check with your bee broker they may have a lead on some that are going out.

[charmd2]

Ok showing I KNOW NOTHING about almonds or Cali weather/farming..  But here's my question. 

What other agriculture is in the three miles surrounding your grove?  Bees fly roughly a 3 mile radius from home, and if almonds are the only crop in your area you will be feeding bees heavily most of the year, when the almonds aren't blooming. 

[Sparky]

  Good thought  charmd2       What other agriculture is in the three miles surrounding your grove?  Bees fly roughly a 3 mile radius from home, and if almonds are the only crop in your area you will be feeding bees heavily most of the year, when the almonds aren't blooming. 
I would also find out what the bee laws are in your state. If you are entertaining the thought of purchase of a bunch of colonies the state of CA may require some sort of inspector to sign off on them before you can move them to your location.


 

[Michael Bush]

I always figured if I were an almond grower I'd have my own bees, but then I'm thinking like a beekeeper.  But most of us got into it for lesser reasons, financially.  If you let the weeds bloom around the place maybe they'd have enough to live on the rest of the year...

[charmd2]

When I asked I was just thinking about what I've read on how many hundreds of colonies the migratory beeks take there.  If I had hundreds or even a hundred colonies on my farm land I'm sure most of them would starve.   

[Jim134]

         Baughman.............

Go to your local beekeeping assciation at will help you out bee for you start keeping bees.





BEEKEEPERS ASSOC OF SOUTHERN CA
Mark Allen
P O Box 5021
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
Phone: 562-841-9754
Email: [email protected]
http://bascbees.org/

BEEKEEPERS GUILD OF SAN MATEO COUNTY
Tom Vercoutere
629 Castle Hill Rd
Redwood City, CA 94061
Email: [email protected]
http://www.sanmateobee.org

CALIFORNIA STATE BKPRS ASSOC
Patti Johnson
7220 E Grayson Rd
Hughson, CA 95326
Phone: 209-667-4590
Email: [email protected]
http://www.californiastatebeekeepers.com

DELTA BEE CLUB
Alan Henninger
10828 Crothers Rd
San Jose, CA 95127
Phone: 408-251-9214
Email: [email protected]

GILROY COUNTY BKPRS ASSOC
Wayne Pitts
1726 Fine Dr
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: 408-644-2382
Email: [email protected]

LOS ANGELES COUNTY BKPRS ASSOC
16333 Parthenia St
North Hills, CA 91343
Walter McBride
Phone: 818-892-9224
Email: [email protected]
www.losangelescountybeekeepers.com

MARIN COUNTY BKPRS ASSOC
Mea McNeil Draper
Draper Farms
11 Sacramento Avenue
San Anselmo, CA 94960
http://www.marincountybeekeepers.org

MOUNT DIABLO BKPRS ASSOC
Jeff Peacock
3341 Walnut La
Lafayette, CA 94549
Email: [email protected]
http://www.diablobees.org

NEVADA COUNTY BKRPS ASSOC
227 South Auburn Street
Grass Valley, CA
Rob Slay
Phone:530-263-5613
Email:[email protected]
http://countryrubes.com/informationp...sociation.html

ORANGE COUNTY BKPRS ASSOC
Jim Ludiker
Phone: 714-839-BEES (2337)
http://www.ocba.homestead.com

SACRAMENTO AREA BKPRS ASSOC
2110 X Street
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 916-451-2337
Email: [email protected]
www.sacbeekeepers.org

SANTA CLARA VALLEY BKPRS GUILD
Wayne Pitts
1726 Fine Dr
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: 408-644-2382
Email: [email protected]

SANTA MARIA VALLEY BKPRS ASSOC
(Santa Maria to Paso Robles and beyond)
1074 Hetrick Ave.
Arroyo Grande Ca 93420
Contact: Shelley
Phone: 805-481-6897
Email: [email protected]

SONOMA COUNTY BKPRS ASSOC
P O Box 98
Santa Rosa, CA 95402-0098
Email: [email protected]
http://www.sonomabees.org



                     BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)