Hello! Introducing myself

[thebalvenie]

hi all!

i'm new to the beeforums and am completely new to the world of bees...my wife and i want to have "backyard" bees
I've been reading and reading some great stuff on the net and it has eventually led me here! 

we have two young kids, two dogs (labs), 4 chickens, and a cat...we live in a nice neighborhood in Missoula, MT on a little over 1/3 acre of land (lots of back yard space!!!!  anyways, i want to get started and i'm hoping this place will help in that regard. 

thanks!

Rod

[lenape13]

Welcome to the forum.  You'll find lots of info here on every aspect of beekeeping.  Enjoy your girls.

[danno]

Very nice area you live in Rod.   Back in the late 70 and early 80s I vacationed out there every year.   We trout fished in the swan river valley.  Great fishing and really fun hot spring swimming

[thebalvenie]

Very nice area you live in Rod.   Back in the late 70 and early 80s I vacationed out there every year.   We trout fished in the swan river valley.  Great fishing and really fun hot spring swimming

we're pretty darn fortunate to live here....i'm a fifth generation montanan and grew up in whitefish. 

"oh i'll never leave Montana, brother."  ;) 

that said, i'm very clueless about all this bee stuff.  i'm online looking at "starter/beginner kits" 

once i get that set up i order bees and dump em in there?  how do i start colonizing? 

p.s. i just bought beekeeping for dummies...as used second hand copy for 5 bucks....not a bad start and i'm gonna need all the resources i can handle. 

[indypartridge]

Hello and Welcome!

I'm sure you'll find this forum to be a useful source of information about bees and beekeeping. Be sure to check out the tutorials on the main Beemaster page (click on 'Backyard Beekeeping Course' and scroll down). Another site that I highly recommend belongs to Michael Bush:
http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Also, be sure to get connected with local beekeepers. Start making some contacts:
http://agr.mt.gov/crops/Bees/Apiary.asp

Good Luck!

[Kathyp]

you may want to skip the starter kit.  they have some stuff you probably don't need and other stuff that you do need, won't be in there.   when you are ready to order, either do a search on here for other starter kit topics, or repost and we can help you out.

[Cindi]

Rod, welcome to our forum, wonderful that your search lead you here.  The more that you learn about the secret life of the honeybee, the more you will want to learn.  Once you get your bees, you will find that will become held deeply under their spell, they have that way about them.  I would dare to venture to say that we here are all held under that spell too.  Stick around, we love new members, we can be your help when you need it.  Do lots of studying, that day will come when those little critters will be a'flyin' all over your yard.  Have that wonderful, most awesome day, life and health.  Cindi

[thebalvenie]

thanks to all for the warm welcome

sorry i've not been on in a long while but i've been busy with just life in general.  i still plan to get bees but our city ordinance doesn't allow them to be kept in the backyard.....thanks indypartridge for the .gov link it looks to be most helpful!!!!!!

anyways, i'll be on here more next year when i get my girls :)  i'm planning on holding off for financial reasons and i do need to study more. i've read Beekeeping for dummies...i must say it wasn't a bad read at all and seemed to be pretty consistent with the literature i've found on the web.

THANKS! 

[KD4MOJ]

i still plan to get bees but our city ordinance doesn't allow them to be kept in the backyard.....

  That's strange Rod... they allow you to keep chickens but not the honeybee?


...DOUG
KD4MOJ

[wd]

Beekeeper Programs
http://agr.mt.gov/crops/beekeepers.asp

Apiary Program, hive registration form and more
http://agr.mt.gov/crops/Bees/Apiary.asp

[aartiana]

COOL!!  I am in the Bitterroot Valley, about an hour south of you hehe!  Been doing some research around here.  Will you be attending the class in Kalispell on April 24th by chance?