Thinking of taking up beekeeping. Any suggestions or advice?

Leave the US somewhere that monsanto isn't having their crap sprayed.

The whole of Earth is covered, perhaps a large greenhouse? I have had a bee hive before. Neighbors had huge gardens- Awesome, however their sprays mild ny colony. So my advice keep them within a closed system if possible.

And as the previous post states someplace un Monsanto! But I bet you use roundup? Just checking?

Killed my to replace nailed ny

Fucking spell correct !!! Killed my to replace mild ny!

Start with at least 2 hives. Read all the books on beekeeping you can find. Join a local club.

Don't get stung. It hurts.

Check with your County extension office, several states now offer a master beekeeper program similar to the master gardeners program.

they will all be dead and you flush your money way. EPA is gone and the skies will rain acid.

I spray glyphosate and several other pesticides for a beekeeper and his bee's are doing just fine.

Know what grows in your area and when it blooms that bees like. Get the book The Practical Beekeeper. There are less expensive books about beekeeping but none I like better.

There is some good advice in forums too. Good luck.

Yea but what is the honey doing to people?

I did this for a few years and enjoyed it. It's important to have a bee keeping suit if you're allergic. Most of what I did was without one on when changing out the vegetable oil pan on the bottom of the hive to keep the bugs down. However, if you need to take the top off to check on your queen you need to learn how to use a smoker to settle the bees down while you work. I think I got stung once or twice during that time.

Know how you plan on collecting your honey as I let my sit for 3 years not to sure how to do it. Work with a bee keeper who can mentor you.. walk you through the steps.

Also know where you're going to keep your hives. We were in an area that has flowers all year round and mild winters.

My hive did fail when gone from home several months and wasn't there to monitor the oil pan which became infested with cockroach larva that crawled up into the hive. Not good. We were able to harvest the honey which was good.

Check to see if there is a Beekeepers Association website i your area.

Here is an interesting website: [link to www.uhbeeproject.com]

Some supplies for 2 hives from Dadant:

2 hive bodies, unassembled, with frames (B52101, , page 12)*
6 supers, unassembled, 6-5/8" size, with frames (B31101, page 12)*
2 flat wood covers (B14201, page 25)
2 metal bound excluders (M00823, page 28)
2 bottom boards (C91201P, page 13)
20 foundations for 9-1/8" frames (F37000, plasticell yellow beeswax coated, page 15)
60 foundations for 6-1/4" frames (F37200, plasticell beeswax coated, page 16)

You can get unassembled or assembled hives.

This is from a few years back so prices may have increased.

Hive body with top bar frames assembled would be on pg 13 or unassembled on pg 15 for Hives and pg 16 for Supers. If you look at a order that is the cheapest way to go. If you want to spare yourself the extra work and just get it ready to go then C52101P for the Hive which includes top, groove top bar frames with foundations and flat wood bottom and C31501P which is super with frames and foundations. You would need to order in addition an excluder and I would suggest a verroa screen bottom. The assembled unit is already painted and ready to go. Hive $98.95; Super $39.95; Metal Excluder $5.95 ; Varroa Screened Bottom Board $13.50

Hive with top, frames, foundation, btm board C52101 $98.95
Super with frames and foundations C31501 $39.95
Metal Excluder single M00823 pg 28 $5.95
Varroa Screen Bottom Board single B92901 pg 54 $13.50

$158.35
add another super and the total is $198.30 for the one hive and two supers. This does not include shipping.

nothing is flowering when it is sprayed.

I don't use round up. I guess the most "out there" I get is using worm castings to fertilize my vegetable garden...lol.

Go with Yeller Hornets

I just got my hive for Christmas and my bee's are on their way!!! I am sooooooooo excited!!! This is my first time at being a BeeKeeper!!
I am taking a class next weekend and will join the local group. I recommend this, as well as, watch some utube videos, get some books and talk to other BeeKeepers!! I am lucky I live with one(he sold his hives when he moved). But, we are also talking with a guy who is local and has been a BeeKeeper for about 20yrs now!

And don't neglect Varroa treatments, or your hives WILL die.

Can you recommend any sites that would be useful for a rank beginner? There are some sites which, if you're not "suitably expert" or trying to pretend expertise, aren't very welcoming.

Thanks for any guidance.

put a sign out front like I saw one time,

Honey
You pick

I'm sure I'll figure out what that is, thanks.

A fence to keep bears out.

North & west wind breaks.

No union bees. No African bees.

Life insurance policy.

Shot gun and rock salt.

THAT neighbor isn't around anymore.

I'm fortunate to live across from a several hundred acre wetland/preserve that has any variety of wildflowers for the bees to use.

You will if you read the books.

Varroa Destructor is a devastating parasitic mite that had decimated hives around the world. It keeps to be kept in check with periodic chemical treatments. Untreated hives die. That's just the way it is now.

Got it, thanks.

glyphosate kills bees immediatley

I don't spray so I'm hopeful that won't be an issue.

Cool hobby--my dad did it for years, but got out of it.

He learned from an old guy he knew; ended up inheriting all of his equipment when he passed away.

You need plenty of space away from the house.
Check your hives frequently so the bees get use to you.
I paid about $150 for a 3 tier hive that was very active.
I gave them away after a few years because we didn't have enough room.
I have built owl houses that were over taken by bees and that was great. They were high up and didn't bother anyone. They left after they outgrew the box. Then I collect about a gallon of honey from it.

Benadryl.