Thread: Any beekeepers out there?

Keeping bees takes a lot of work and dedication. I had a bunch when I worked in NJ. I didn't check the link about the problems with bees, but I'm sure it had to do with the two mites; veroa and endotracheal. It is a real problem for honey bees here, but I don't know about elsewhere. Populations have dropped 90% in some states as of two years ago.
That said, I have seen some encouraging signs, with my work in trees. I have come across many wild honey bee hives, and most were healthy. As well, with proper medication, it is possible to maintain a healthy hive. You just have to keep after wax moths, ants, mice, bears, and the two mites, starvation in the winter, and swarming. Other than that, it's a walk in the park!
Ed
quicknicker

i've always wanted to keep bees but the above post keeps me from doing it. i don't want to have to be responsible for 50,000 little lives since i can be the Uber-Klutz. i have two friends who had great success with bees this year. one posted pix on facebook of jars and jars of honey she got out of one hive.

A lady I know keeps a small bee colony. She, and a few other folks in Columbia have maintained their colonies for several years and seem to be very open to teaching others, sharing extractors and whatnot.

I was going to get into it this year, but some work stuff came up, and I won't be home much....so no stingy-honey bugs for me.

From what I gleaned from the previously mentioned lady, dealing with colony collapse isn't a certainty.

I have 21 hives

I'm the son of 20+ year hobby beekeepers. I grew up helping tend the bees. My parents still keep 4-5 hives. Most years the colonies were docile. I recall a few years when I was a kid where the varieties they had were startlingly aggressive. When you were nowhere near their hives, the bees would dive bomb your head and get caught in your hair buzzing furiously the entire time you were trying to free them without getting stung.

My dad doesn't wear a suit, helmet or gloves any longer and he rarely gets stung.

Bees are amazing little creatures.

Chris L

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