How faraway from you is your farthest permanent bee yard

[Hemlock]

I have been offered a spot adjacent to a 50 acre ABANDON apple orchard.  However, it's an hour away from me.  I don't know if I can maintain bees there the whole year or if I'll need to transport them back after the flow.

Opinions...

[Michael Bush]

The only yard I have that far away is at a friend's house and it's a good excuse to visit. Otherwise I'd find a closer one... and that one doesn't get cared for very well.

[applebwoi]

Out of sight, out of mind.  An hour away would be tough for me to keep up with.  I have trouble getting to those 20 min away, as often as I should.

[riverrat]

it depends on how many hives you have out there and how well they produce. Is there more than apples for them to forage on. With the price of gas and your time I would think it would be hard to come out putting hives that far away. Especially if you had just as good if not better foraging closer

[BeeHopper]

Hemlock,

Find something closer, much closer, you're looking at a 2 hour round trip just to do a 15 minute  or so visit, trust me it will grow on you. My hives are 7 miles away on a busy 15 minute one way road trip through 2 busy towns, that is the easy part, the hard part is the 1/4 dirt road in to the hives which on soggy days will trap my P/U Truck ( not 4x4 ), walking in is such a pain. I am grateful for that location, but will not be good if I decide to raise Queens. I am looking for something closer to my home or at least an easier access yard.
Keep looking for that sweet spot of a beeyard.  :-D

BH

[HAB]

My closest is 100yds from the backdoor and my farthest is just under 3/4mile.  All right here on the farm/apiary. :bee: :bee: :bee:
Yep!  I'm one lucky man.  "Take a trip (to the apiary) and never leave the farm." to paraphrase the old song.  :bee: :bee: :bee:

[bassman1977]

My furthest one is about 5 miles away.

[wd]

I have one to start on a 45 minute drive away, I think it's a matter choice and what one can do.

[Hemlock]

Oh well,

I asked the question because I suspected as much.  I couldn't see how I was going to keep up with the flow without going there several times a week.  It's a great area, all mountain forest.  The orchard is on the side of the mountain.  A third of the trees are Yellow Poplar too, not to mention the maples & basswood.

Thank you all.

[Grandma_DOG]

My last outyard is 45 minute drive. Because of that I under-attended my hives, and all my nucs died during the summer for lack of care.  It became obvious thereafter that I needed a closer outyard.

I don't recommend any outyard (primary) more than 30 minutes away.

[melliphile]

I concur with most others.  Most visits to the hive can be done in under 15 min.  Too long a drive and the bees will suffer. Mine did.