Need advice for a potential newbie
Chris Jackson
a hobby, but we have some concerns.
Our yard is not particularly big, about fifty by fifty, and we have
small children, under 3. In addition, we have a vegetable garden that
our children love to help out in, and I could see a higher presence of
bees in the garden as a potential danger to our kids.
By keeping an apiary, would we be increasing the possibility of our
kids getting stung?
AL
Yes.
50 x 50 - is that exclusive of the house or is that the total area of
your property?
You can reduce exposure to the bees by placing the hive in an enclosed
area with a fence at say shoulder height. This will force the bees to
fly up & out, thus keeping their flight pattern above head height.
You will have more bees in your garden, a good thing for the garden
during pollination, so there will be greater exposure to the bees when
working out there. Just teach your kids to watch out for them when
gardening - foraging honeybees typically aren't looking for a fight.
A bee sting is no big deal, well to a 3 yr old and the mother it may
seem to be. Learn the proper technique for removing a honeybee stinger,
flick it out with a fingernail - don't pull it out with your fingers.
Benedryl is good to have on hand to reduce allergic reactions like
swelling.
I keep a couple of epi pens in case someone gets stung and suffers
anaphaletic shock - that IS serious and needs to be treated immediately.
No one in my family is that allergic to bee stings but if someone comes
to visit and gets stung I like to be prepared. So I guess before you set
up a hive you might have yourself and your family checked for serious
allergic reactions to bee stings - swelling is a mild reaction. I don't
even experience swelling anymore.
I would encourage you to set up a hive, just take a few precautions and
spend time with your kids studying the bee's behavior. It will be a real
treat someday when you pull some honey - that really gets the kids involved.
kauhl-meersburg
hi,
go on and have a try, you will never regret it -
but wait until spring / early summer, overwintering bees is the most
difficult job - how far in the north do you live?
in the meantime get a good book and try to realize the basic ruling,
additionally visit a professional / hobby beekeeper to hear from his sorrows
at this NG everytime you will get answered all your questions -
we in Germany say "there is no silly question, there are only silly answers"
cheers kauhl
Chris Jackson
50 by 50 is the backyard, including our detached garage/carport.
By "Yes" do you mean that my kids stand a greater change of being
stung?
Right now I think my wife is leaning away from setting one up ---
you're spot on in noting that a bee sting can be a big deal for a 3
year old's mother.
I agree that the kids could really get into it. My 3 year old loves
the garden because he loves knowing where his food comes from.
I could use some other advice as well. Anyone feel free to speak up
here:
About what could I expect to be my total start up costs?
Would you recommend buying a working hive from a keeper in the area or
starting a new one via mail order bees?
How much time per day or week (or whatever other time period is more
accurate) would I be putting into it?
I have heard that honeybee populations have drastically declined in
recent years. Would my small contribution in keeping a hive help this
situation, or is it pretty neutral?
Again, thanks!
AL
> Thanks for your help!
>
> 50 by 50 is the backyard, including our detached garage/carport.
>
> By "Yes" do you mean that my kids stand a greater change of being
> stung?
Yes.
You'll have a concentration of 30,000 - 60,000 bees located in your back
yard so you will increase the probability of getting stung. Any sweet
item like kool-aid, soda, stuff like that, will attract them in larger
numbers and if you're not just a bit more careful you could end up with
a stinger. Foraging honeybees tend NOT to be aggressive but if you step
on one or pick up something that has a bee on it, you could get stung.
Always cover your drinks to avoid swallowing one - but that should
always be the rule for outdoor food anyway...
> Right now I think my wife is leaning away from setting one up ---
> you're spot on in noting that a bee sting can be a big deal for a 3
> year old's mother.
Kids know how to push mom's buttons from a very early age so little
things can work to get mom's attention but bee stings do hurt. I've used
apitherapy for a bad elbow for nearly 10 years, sometimes taking up to
6-7 stings at a time several days in a row and even though I don't swell
anymore, they still hurt. My wife just says "well if it hurts don't
do it" - guess I need to call mom...
If your wife is really against the idea you'll likely hear a lot about
"those bees"... not sure that would be worth it.
> I agree that the kids could really get into it. My 3 year old loves
> the garden because he loves knowing where his food comes from.
Its a great way to spend time with your kids. My daughter started with
me when she was 8 or 9 - lots of memories, lots of laughs. She's 20 now
and away most of the time so I'm glad for the beekeeping time we shared.
My son has absolutely no interest.
>
> I could use some other advice as well. Anyone feel free to speak up
> here:
>
> About what could I expect to be my total start up costs?
good sources for supplies:
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/
http://www.dadant.com/
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/
Don't get carried away - just a brood box with bottom board, cover and
frames is enough to start - buy the economy version & paint it white,
the bees really don't care. Tyvek coverups ($10), veil & gloves, a hive
tool & small smoker should do the trick. You can easily get set up for
well under $100 (not counting the bees). I noticed Brushy Mtn had some 8
frame medium boxes - that might be a good way to go for a back yard
garden hive.
> Would you recommend buying a working hive from a keeper in the area or
> starting a new one via mail order bees?
If you know a beekeeper in the area you might ask if you could tag along
a few times to see whether you even want bees. Wearing the suit & veil &
gloves on a hot summer day may not be your idea of a good time. If you
decide you do want bees and the beekeeper has a hive to sell that would
be a great way to go. Otherwise set up your box now and order a package
in the spring. Hiving a package is a real experience the first time -
probably not the ideal family activity. They will enjoy watching from
inside the house I'm sure.
>
> How much time per day or week (or whatever other time period is more
> accurate) would I be putting into it?
Other than maybe spring & fall feeding they don't need much attention -
not like the cat or dog or parakeet that need to be fed & watered every
day. My problem has always been messing with them too much 'cause I
enjoy it.
>
> I have heard that honeybee populations have drastically declined in
> recent years. Would my small contribution in keeping a hive help this
> situation, or is it pretty neutral?
If it helps sell the idea to your wife then sure, its a vital service to
the world's survival, otherwise its not a drop in the bucket. :)
But!, it can be of benefit to your garden so from the standpoint it
contributes to your food supply with more & better quality produce...
yeah, THAT'S the ticket, sell that!
There are some seasoned beekeepers in this group - hopefully you'll get
their input as well. This group has been dormant for quite a while, sure
would be nice to see it active again.
Dominic Richens
> My wife and I were thinking about keeping an apiary in our backyard as
> a hobby, but we have some concerns.
Is your backyard in a city or is yours basically a rural property with at
least an acre of field/flowers for each colony to feed on? I wouldn't
attempts the former and if it's the latter I'd just look for some local
farmer and ask if you can setup your hives in one of their pastures -
promise them a kilo of honey every year as rent.
> Our yard is not particularly big, about fifty by fifty, and we have
> small children, under 3. In addition, we have a vegetable garden that
> our children love to help out in, and I could see a higher presence of
> bees in the garden as a potential danger to our kids.
>
> By keeping an apiary, would we be increasing the possibility of our
> kids getting stung?
Yes. I live on 60 acres but have one colony in the vegetable garden and my
wife has been stung twice this year when gardening close to the hive while
wearing a black T-shirt. My kids have yet to be stung and they're 9, 10 and
12 so no biggy.
--
Dominic Richens | kn...@storm.ca
"If you're not *outraged*, you're not paying attention!"
Charlie Kroeger
> a hobby, but we have some concerns.
lawyers for neighbors
cops for neighbors
constant mowing and irregardless spraying
insane neighbors for all other reasons
> Our yard is not particularly big, about fifty by fifty,
I'm assuming feet here but your gmail address doesn't imply location.
The size isn't a factor, you have plenty of room. The location you decide
for the hive needs unobstructed flight patterns. Shade is important if you
have a hot summer and sun in winter so a hive surrounded by a wire fence for
extra safety under a deciduous tree would be about right.
When it's time to acquire the bees to put in your hive select a type noted
for being good natured like Caucasians. Beekeeping requires good governance
by you the beekeeper being mindful of their seasonal dispositions. Even the
most truculent honeybees are tolerant during an abundant nectar flow but
disturb them during times of dearth without proper precautions and it will
be to you and your neighbors peril.
> and we have small children, under 3. In addition, we have a vegetable garden that
> our children love to help out in, and I could see a higher presence of
> bees in the garden as a potential danger to our kids.
If you keep a hive of bees just to improve the yield of your garden and it
is always nice and instructive to the young to see bees clustered on the
vegetable plants and fruit trees, I would think you had little concern of
being stung by an angry bee.
If you kept a hive in a semblance of a beekeeper, you would of course from
time to time, get stung. Being stung isn't as bad as many other things. It
may even build character in some types of personalties and the experience is
also conducive to the consideration of the bee that died stinging you in the
defense of her hive.
It is highly unlikely your children are allergic to stings of insects. Your
Lawyer neighbor's overweight kid on the other hand is probably allergic
because of all those household chemicals his mother used when he was a baby,
now there's a real danger.
> By keeping an apiary, would we be increasing the possibility of our
> kids getting stung?
The above paragraphs regarding level of involvement pretty much answers
that. The more involvement the greater the risk.
Don't think I'm trying to put you off by being 'negative' that's not the
case, I always think it is good for people who have even a vague sense of
keeping bees to try it out after all you know we're born and not made so how
will you know if you never tried. You can take some heart in that fact, and
also you'll be doing something good.
--
CK
JZ
Keeping bees will be a rewarding experience for your whole family.
Much of the year the bees thrive on our neglect, but even a single
hive can involve some real work from time to time. If you live in the
U.S. then you can consult your local cooperative extension office
(there's one in every county). Many states have an apiarist on
staff. They should be able to put you in touch with local beekeepers
and beekeeping associations. You can attend one of their monthly
meetings to get advice about your specific location from seasoned
veterans and meet other novice beekeepers in your area. One of them
may even sell nucs (small starter colonies of bees) to help you get
into business in the spring. You can order a package of bees and a
queen through the mail, but if you wait too long to place your order,
your bees may not arrive until late spring, giving the bees less time
to build up their numbers. Winter is the time to build your hive and
read some books. The website beesource.com has links to lots of
resources online. And if you are handy with a few tools, they also
have free plans for building most of the major hive components.
If you work on engines, you will grease under your finger nails. If
you keep bees you will probably get stung once or twice. But that
first jar of golden honey will make you forget it.
-JZ