I'm thinking I would like to start raising bees. Is there any special breed that works well? How do I get started? I have read a few books however they aren't simple enough for me to understand. I quess I'm simple. I'd like to produce our own honey, cheaply. When is the best time to start?

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), November 12, 2000

Answers

hillbilly, if you are in the deep deep south you might could start a hive now but it is best to wait until spring. Keep looking for beekeeping books. A lot of them are hard to understand but there is good information in them. First you need to decide if you will buy a started hive from a local beekeeper (best option as long as his hives are healthy) or if you will order your bees. If you order bees do just as it tells you in the books about installing them in their new hive. I prefer to buy from a local beekeeper because once you get them started on bees they can talk for hours! You will get a lot of good advice. Check with your local ag extension agent for a local beekeepers club....most areas have them. Your hives don't need to be handled nearly as often as the books tell you. A lot of people don't open their hives but twice a year...once to put on the supers and once to remove them. This is fine if you are prepared to buy new packages of bees from time to time and all you care about is a bit of honey. Beekeeping is fascinating and most people go in their hives a bit more often. I check on the queen while I am in there and for signs of obvious problems but mostly I just like to look at all the goings on. I strongly suggest you ask an experienced beekeeper if he minds if you tag along next time he will be in his hives. It is more than a bit unnerving you first time to hear the buzzing of several hundred bees that aren't real thrilled with your invasion into their home. Most beekeepers are good folks and eager to share knowledge of their hobby. Oh and one important thing to check before buying bees is if you are in a quaranteened county for africanized bees. Good luck.

-- Amanda S (aseley@townsqr.com), November 13, 2000.

Check with your local extension agent to get a contact # for the local (or state) beekeeping group. I took a class before I started and it proved very valuable re: the latest info on diseases. "Bee Culture" magazine is excellent too.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), November 13, 2000.

First Lessons in Beekeeping By c.p. Dadant It's simple and a good refrence to have around.

-- BEcky (Becktora@webtv.net), November 14, 2000.