Solar anyone?

I visited a friend at his new hobby/nature farm today. So far some ponds and wetlands have been built, fruit trees and grapes planted, and beehives installed. The whole farm is moving toward being off the grid with the construction of this new barn / shop with living space. It has propane back up just in case. It still has an interweb connection so it's not totally isolated. It's a great week end get away from the city.




I got my first chance to play amateur beekeeper, something I have wanted to do for years. I got to load a hive with a new colony. I want a bee colony of my own now.

Thanks for the glove info. I have no experience with bees. My friends were in beekeeping suits and asked if I wanted to help. I thought it was strange that they were experienced and wearing suits and they had me do it in my street clothes. I don't know why they gave me the gloves, it seems that they provide no sting protection. Could it be so I don't transfer any illness to the queen when I put the marshmallow plug in her cage?
Anyway I really enjoyed it and I am considering a hive of my own. With a last name of Beeman it was time to give it a try.

Interesting, I have been keeping bees for half a dozen years. Just finally started to get some good surplus in the last couple years. Nice to have a bit of common ground here in more than one area of interest. There is no shame in wearing protective clothing and it is true the more comfortable you feel working with the bees the more comfortable they will be letting you in their home. Incidently. I didn't see any protection around the hives. Do you guys have bears?

Gary S wrote: The Mrs has always wanted me to get some bees,I'll have to give this a rethink

Just make sure she keeps them out of her bonnet!

I'd wear protection. I got stung twice in the head a few years ago and my head swelled up till I looked like the elephant man. I had to take the bus to the doctor to get a z pack because my eyes were so swelled I could barely see and I couldn't drive. No one sat near me on the bus. They looked at me and went as far away as possible. I'm not allergic to bees. Just a normal reaction to a couple good stings.

Bears lol here we have skunks they can tear up a hive   

They were a yellow jacket and about 7 days later a white faced hornet. It's the 2nd sting a week later that causes your body to go into overdrive to fight off the poison. I wouldn't trust a honey bee or a bumble bee as peaceful as they might seem. It's pretty bad when the people on the bus shun you.

Yellow jackets and hornets are a different story. They are usually quite aggressive and can sting multiple times. They do leave a mark.

     When my dad was in his twenties he worked for a commercial bee keeper, and one day they were hauling bees for pollination some where on big flat bed truck. Three guys in the cab. The driver some how ran the truck off the road. My dad was thrown out the window and all the bees were stinging him. It was a miracle he survived!

Riley wrote: I'd wear protection. I got stung twice in the head a few years ago and my head swelled up till I looked like the elephant man.

dochockey wrote:    also tie your pants bees like to crawl up

Hmmmmmm, I may be on to a new product that could make me rich