Not quite a beekeeper yet.

crmauch · March 02, 2016, 02:31:42 PM

Thinking seriously about starting beekeeping of honeybees for the first time.

I kept orchard mason bees for about 15 years (lost them in 2015).

Haven't purchased a thing yet. One consideration is that all costs will have to be kept to an extreme minimum. Am considering building top-bar hives.

Besides keeping costs low, want to be as non-chemical as reasonably possible (I'm not a complete fanatic in that area).

Am planning to grow buckwheat and sweet clover in succession plantings this year.

May also be working with scouts on hives (a new requirement is that their Life Rank project must be conservation based).

Michael Bush · March 02, 2016, 06:29:32 PM

You may want to start your reading here: bushfarms.com/bees.htm

BeeMaster2 · March 02, 2016, 06:44:02 PM

Welcome to Beemaster.
Jim

KeyLargoBees · March 03, 2016, 07:48:13 AM

Welcome to the Family

Rurification · March 03, 2016, 09:09:54 AM

Welcome to the forum. Lots of very friendly and knowledgeable people here.

crmauch · July 20, 2020, 09:54:35 AM

Well I'm a beekeeper now!

I've been putting up swarm boxes for turns out for 5 years and until now 'NUTHIN'

Heard later from a beekeeper that this year there were a lot of swarms.

I caught one! I had become discouraged, and toyed with the idea of quitting. I had finished the trough part of my topbar hive and primed it, but never finished painting it, didn't have many top bars made, no follower board, and no top cover. I brought the swarm trap home, and the bees seemed very calm. I quickly painted the box, made and painted the top cover, and transferred the bees to the topbar. I've also determined that 1X2s make a good top bar (maybe slightly too wide) I've had a lot of newbie mistakes, and I have to say the bees have been very forgiving. I'll hopefully post more about my trials in a later post. I'm also excited as even if I fail, I now have comb which from what I've read, may make my swarm boxes more successful.

cao · July 20, 2020, 10:04:18 AM

congrats

Acebird · July 20, 2020, 05:36:11 PM

Quote from: crmauch on July 20, 2020, 09:54:35 AM
Well I'm a beekeeper now!

I've been putting up swarm boxes for turns out for 5 years and until now 'NUTHIN'

If you have that much determination I predict you will do well. Congratulations.

BeeMaster2 · July 20, 2020, 11:16:41 PM

Congratulations Chris. If you haven?t figured it out, beekeeping is very addictive.
Jim Altmiller