decent enough SurvivalBlog article introducing beekeeping to the newbie beginner >> https://survivalblog.com/introductio...1-k-tennessee/ https://survivalblog.com/introductio...2-k-tennessee/ https://survivalblog.com/introductio...3-k-tennessee/ Looking for more beekeeper inside info??? http://www.survivorlibrary.com/index...l%20(american) http://www.survivorlibrary.com/index...al%20(british) http://www.survivorlibrary.com/index...ary-beekeeping http://www.survivorlibrary.com/index...beekeeping%202
Every homesteader needs to be into bee keeping at some level. Honestly it's on my list, but haven't got to it as yet. The uncle and I have attended several meeting of the local bee keepers in the county so we have a good working knowledge of what we need but have yet to do it. We do have a couple of hives placed here from some contacts we made at the meetings but we need to get our own.
Too much time for me at this time, but I have new hive sets + preformed base wax + extractor + suits and the experience of several years of collecting swarms. Maybe when I hit 85 I'll slow down some and keep bees again!
I got into it about 20 years ago...kept them a few years, they died out one bad winter and I put my stuff away until this year. Buddy of mine that I started with back when brought me a hive, and I've since added a couple of nuc's I bought for a total of three hive. I planted a small appple orchard about (40 trees) 6-7 years ago and last year had a lot of blossoms but almost no apples....so I knew it was time to get back with the program. Guess I'll be a small time keeper from now on because I REALLY like apples
I just have two hives, one is kinda old and large the other is just a new swarm from this year - so they are just in a deep hive body. I enjoy just watching them, the new hive is getting really busy, so I may soon need to add a super.
Last week's catch, rather small swarm, but there is a queen in that cluster. I now have them in a regular hive body. Got the trap back out, also, have another trap out.