Biodiverse Polyculture (USDA 8a Zone Pasture) - sounds better than "My Acres of Weeds"

[Bawkbok]

Go for it!! Selling honey would be another source of income.

I've always wanted to raise honey bees but we simply don't have the space to accommodate it and there is not enough flora in the area to support them. The queens are very expensive. It's been a couple of years since my research to that end but I'm sure prices have increased - like everything else.

Living vicariously through your endeavors! This is so much fun.

 

[Sally PB]

We started with one hive. We split it last April when it seemed it was bursting at the seams. If bees think it's getting too crowed, they will swarm, taking the queen and 60% (ish) of the bees to go find more room. The remainder might "requeen" themselves (raise a new queen) or not; if not, they'll be dead in about a month. Both our hives made it at least into December.

One of the hives has died. I just ordered a nuc (short for "nucleus hive") to replace it. I ordered from someone in our local club, so the bees I'll be getting in June will have lived only in Michigan, which is a plus. The nuc was $200. Yes, I will pay that much for a box of bees. A mated, laying queen is included.

Getting started in beekeeping is sort of like getting started with chickens. A lot of money up front before you get anything. We didn't get any honey the first season (expected) and we didn't get any last summer/fall either. Very disappointing! I think we have about $1200 into beekeeping now.

When thinking about forage area for bees, keep in mind that they will fly up to 3 miles to forage. That is a LOT of area. So it's not just your yard or acreage.

A field of wildflowers is great. So are certain trees. They also need food all season long. If there isn't anything for them to eat, they will eat any honey they have made, or they will starve. So when there isn't anything in bloom, you need to feed them.

 

[Bawkbok]

I think we have about $1200 into beekeeping now.

The start up costs was the initial deterrent that prevented my bee keeping hobby from kicking off - house needed repairs. It's all about keeping my priorities in check. Someday, I WILL have bees. I decided chickens were more important than bees so I had to pick my "poison".

 

[Sally PB]

Raw honey goes for $48-60 a gallon here, depending on where you get it. I only buy honey from beekeepers now. I don't trust the stuff in stores to be 100% honey. By law it can be up to 10% "something else" and still legally be labeled 100% honey.

We had a presentation at the club about processing honey. The presenter told us this, and said, "Don't do that. Just... don't."

 

[Bawkbok]

We have local bee keepers in the area and I also prefer to buy local honey.
Are you a certified bee keeping trainer?

 

[Sally PB]

Are you a certified bee keeping trainer?

Nowhere close. Still learning.

 

[fuzzi]

Raw honey goes for $48-60 a gallon here, depending on where you get it. I only buy honey from beekeepers now. I don't trust the stuff in stores to be 100% honey. By law it can be up to 10% "something else" and still legally be labeled 100% honey.

We had a presentation at the club about processing honey. The presenter told us this, and said, "Don't do that. Just... don't."

I started buying raw honey at the farmers' market. There's a couple of beekeepers selling there. I was told that they move the bees onto different properties. He's selling jars of one marked "sage". The Spring honey tastes almost fruity, but my favorite is the Autumn honey, which has more of a musky taste.

 

[Molpet]

When thinking about forage area for bees, keep in mind that they will fly up to 3 miles to forage. That is a LOT of area. So it's not just your yard or acreage.

And keep in mind what has been sprayed in those 3 miles. . my cousin has the farm across the road and they spray. So no bees for me. I hardly see a honeybee. A couple bumblebees, some tiny ground bees and carpenter bee in the hoop coop ridge 2x4.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I started buying raw honey at the farmers' market. There's a couple of beekeepers selling there. I was told that they move the bees onto different properties. He's selling jars of one marked "sage". The Spring honey tastes almost fruity, but my favorite is the Autumn honey, which has more of a musky taste.

I sort of wonder if them foraging Asparagus will impart an off flavor. I have it planted in with the apples (I did get the third planted yesterday, yay!), the four peach trees, the three grape vines (need to redo the arbor this year! meaning it won't happen till next at the earliest), two paw paw, a cluster of bananas, six loquats, and 2-4 citrus (depending on how many survived this freeze). Plus whatever is in the garden - usually basil, oregano, scallion, mint, thyme, tomatoes, and peppers (sweet and hot) during spring/summer.

You know what, I think that flavor just sounds "confused" regardless.

 

[Bawkbok]

We have a wildflower garden that the honey bees used to visit, but I haven't seen a bee in two years. Our garden didn't make it through the winter. Even as perennials they don't look healthy, too much frost and freeze burn so I'll have to start all over.