Newbee - where do I start?

[lemur]

As I just posted in the "intro" forum, I'm brand new at this and looking to learn.  Can't raise bees here in my condo in FL, so the actual practice will have to wait until I move to my new home (about a year or so from now).  Meanwhile I figure I'll focus on learning all I can.

I was sort of surprised to not see a "beginner info" type of thread stickied, so at the risk of horrific redundancy, I ask that folks guide me in the right direction.  Doing some research on the web, and plan on buying a bunch of books, but ack, where to start?

I'm planning on focusing on as non-chemical and organic as I can, since that's my belief with all my farming. 

There are a few beekeepers in my local area, so I'll also begin working on contacting them and asking to donate my time in exchange for some lessons.  Any suggestions you can make will be gratefully applied.

[Moonshae]

I'm pretty new here, too, but I found Mr. beemaster's instructional page very useful: http://www.beemaster.com/honeybee/beehome.htm

[TwT]

and when you get finished reading Johns beginner course, here is a list of online books to read.

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?board=56.0

[Understudy]

Where in Florida are you?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[abates99]

Most beekeepers are very glad to share with you, and help you learn.  You may even have a local bee club that you could join, this is a great way to learn and meet other beekeepers.  Your locals will probably be willing to help you aquire equipment and bee's when you are ready.  This forum and beemasters website are excellent ways to learn, it has helped me a great deal.

[lemur]

Where in Florida are you?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

The edge of Winter Park on the outskirts of Orlando.  We do have some local beekeepers - SOMEONE is supplying honey to my local farmers market.  So I'm definitely going to hunt them down.

[sean]

Where in Florida are you?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

The edge of Winter Park on the outskirts of Orlando.  We do have some local beekeepers - SOMEONE is supplying honey to my local farmers market.  So I'm definitely going to hunt them down.

Brendhan, how far is that from you. Could this be the start of understudy inc.?

[budhanes]

Dont wait a whole year to start. Post an ad for "beehive Locations Needed" on Craigslist.com. I did this because I had to move my hive and got 5 calls!!!

[lemur]

Dont wait a whole year to start. Post an ad for "beehive Locations Needed" on Craigslist.com. I did this because I had to move my hive and got 5 calls!!!

Wow, well I wish I could, but right now we have imperative things happening with a new internet business venture and our roommate just getting ready to return home after a fight with leukemia.  If I were to start beekeeping now, I wouldn't be giving my whole self to the bees, my roommate or other projects.  So for now I'll learn virtually and maybe get some local bee people to begin teaching me. 

This year is for research, getting the business going so it can support our organic living habit and focusing on getting our homes ready to sell so we can move.

I'm extremely good at diluting my energies, so I'm fighting hard to not do so for a change.  I'm learning to do everything in its time, and as much as I'm impatient, that's probably the best way right now.

Now if I had the slightest bit of real experience behind me, I might do as you suggest!  But with gas at $4/gallon, and nowhere NEAR where bees could be legally raised (let alone safely), I'd be traveling MILES just to tend hives. 

I applaud and thank you for your enthusiasm though!  It just makes me understand how truly imperative/exciting this process is to anyone involved.  Makes me realize that my thrill at the whole idea is maybe not my newbeeness but instead just the thrill of the bee.  Trust me, if I could reasonably do it yesterday, I would. 

[lemur]

Where in Florida are you?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

The edge of Winter Park on the outskirts of Orlando.  We do have some local beekeepers - SOMEONE is supplying honey to my local farmers market.  So I'm definitely going to hunt them down.

Brendhan, how far is that from you. Could this be the start of understudy inc.?

Wow, well if Brendhan is near me, I'd be thrilled to help out and learn on occasion.  Life is a bit complicated here - roommate with leukemia, money not exactly flowing free, but darn, any opportunity to learn, and I'd be happy to show up when I can and help out just for the fun of learning.

[Understudy]

I am in West Palm Beach. I am about 2.5 hours away.
Unfortunatly there is not a local beekeepers club in the Orlando area.
There is however a Tampa Bay Beekeepers group.
http://www.tampabaybeekeepers.com/

I will more than happy to help just drop me a line.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[lemur]

Thanks Brendhan.  Sadly you're a bit out of driving range or I'd volunteer to come help you mess with your lovely bees.  (If gas weren't so darn expensive! <sigh>)

But I'll happily keep in touch!

[The Dregs]

You might be able to keep bees fine, if you have one of those tiny little courtyards that many condos have. There are a whole lot of rooftop beekeepers in New York.

[Michael Bush]

>Can't raise bees here in my condo in FL

The nice thing about beekeeping (unique in the agricultural arts) is that hives are OFTEN kept on someone else's property.

[annette]

Yes, Michael is correct. I also have my 2 hives on a friends property up the block, as I could not place my hives in my residential neighborhood.

I have a suggestion as to what you can start reading. I started beekeeping reading "Beekeeping for dummies". It was written in such an upbeat and positive manner and I never felt overwhelmed. This book probably gave me most of the confidence to start beekeeping. I do not, however, use any chemicals or medications in my hives, even though that was mentioned in this book and most beekeeping books I have read.

The best you can do is start reading something, check out this internet forum as much as possible and keep learning until the day you are ready. I love to just read everything on this forum, as I learn so much. But I also find that with all the information sometimes it is really easy to just get confused. I think a lot of beekeeping comes from intuition and just watching the bees, although I respect a lot of the answers I receive here.

Stay in touch with us.
Annette from Placerville California - it has been in the 80's for several weeks and the bees are loving it.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesbasics.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnewbees.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm