Bee Keeping

After years of gardening and raising chickens the next step in the "home farm" is keeping bees. I have a friend that has had them for years and was became a mentor in how its done. Buying bees can only be done in the spring from a few sources and the timing was right when I preordered them because they are in a limited quantity and always sell out. They had a few varieties but I chose a local breed because they are better suited to our climate. They are sold by weight and the normal amount for a starter hive is three pounds and includes one queen. My friend gave me the bee boxes and the strong platform to keep it off the ground. A full mutilevel beehive can weigh hundreds of pounds, its almost soild honey. 

The location is important, in a quiet spot facing the morning sun. They become active when it warms up. The whole point of the honey production is to make food to eat during the winter when flowers are not blooming. You allow the bees to fill two boxes for there own food and add a third box to take the honey for yourself. When they are starting out a feeder is attached to the hive to give them a food source until they figure out where the local area flowers are. The feeder is a 50/50 sugar and water solution and they eat about a quart of it or more a day.

Two Level Hive with feeder

24 hours worth of food

After they fill these two boxes with their own personal honey a smaller box will go on top and thats the honey we take. They work all spring and summer to fill these boxes with enough honey to last them during the winter months when its cold and flower nector is scarce. 

I think there is a myth about bees attacking and stinging people. We have a full protective suit but will often change the food without any gear, they are not agressive if you dont give them a reason to be. One fact I didnt know is to wear a light colored shirt when around them or they might mistake you for a bear that wants to steal the honey.