When I was a kid, we never had a garden. My Dad was a city boy. My Mom grew up on a farm and didn’t want that life for herself. I lived across the street from a Methodist church. I found some gardening books at a rummage sale there. The next day, I was digging a patch right in the middle of the lawn. My first garden. I’ve had one ever since. I’m still finding gardening books at rummage sales too.
Last January I joined the local Beekeepers Association. I had been reading everything I could find about bees. I felt ready to set up a hive and get going… until I went to bee school. I stumbled out of that first 6 hour beekeeping class totally overwhelmed and confused. What was I thinking? All those diseases, CCD, attracting bears and rodents…never mind the prospect of possibly being responsible for the deaths of thousands of little creatures … No way! I never went back. I still really wanted one of those suits though, lol.
Lately, I’ve been reconsidering the bee thing. I’m thinking gardening school could easily be a deterrent to someone who’s never gardened before… diseases, insect invasions, animal pilferings, poisonous plants, soil management, ph analysis, compost, dead plants. Maybe keeping bees is a lot easier than school made it out to be
Yup, I agree.. It’s always worth a try. I love to garden but haven’t had the chance these last few years. Maybe this year? But no bees for me LOL
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I would definitely give it a go if you are keen! As you say, there is a lot to pick up on about gardening, so I think just like gardening, having some knowledge, being observant and being patient are always a good start. Plus there’s heaps of bloggers who keep bees, and I’m sure they would provide some invaluable advice….best of luck!
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Thanks, I think you may be right!
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I look forward to the next installment 🙂
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I felt like that about chickens, all that bio-security etc. i would like bees too but all the classes make it sound so scary! 🐝🐓 Go for it – I’ll cheer! 😄
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Thanks..I had chickens too but I may have never tried them if I had taken a class, lol…especially a 6 hour class
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😀 me too! I did check out the local bee keepers after reading your article….. Maybe next year!
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It can’t be as hard as it looks, lol!
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What a lovely story about you digging your first garden…your farmer’s ancestry had to find a way out! And maybe you should visit a few experienced beekeepers and hear their stories and even get some better guidance to start up. It would sad if you miss out on a life experience so close to your heart because you were overwhelmed by TMI. I am pretty sure that you are one of those people who will develop a natural sense of what is going on with your hive;0)
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Thanks! Better to have tried… I do think I may have an affinity for it. I’m not afraid of getting stung, there’s a lot of speculation that it may even be good for your immune system and prevent arthritis. Extra bonus…or consolation prize, lol!
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I’ve watched a couple of home and garden, self-reliance type shows that included episodes on bees. Looks like the toughest part is keeping the little critters alive, which isn’t something you actually have any control over, aside from avoiding pesticides. I have a certain fondness for honey bees. I can’t walk past a dead one on the sidewalk without moving it into the grass where it’s less likely to be stepped on. I like the suggestions about checking with bee bloggers.
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I feel like they are kind of magical.. My favorites are bumble bees but I love the others too. I think I will check out some bee blogs and keep it simple in my own mind. Thanks!
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Go for it!💃
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I think I might! Thanks!
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I’ve never kept bees but I think it is becoming increasingly popular as people perhaps try and do their bit to help bees in their hour of need. Here in the UK, I recently saw a new bee lodge for one of our native bumble bees in one of my Spring seed catalogues, as another idea for attracting bees into gardens.
I follow another blogger who keeps bees and posts on her bee-keeping experiences – she’s in the Netherlands: https://lizard100blog.wordpress.com/find-my-stuff/
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The bee lodge sounds good, I love bumble bees. A friend of mine in Florida told me he never sees them there…maybe because they spray pesticides with planes- Geez!! I will check her blog…thanks!
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Yes, I liked the bee lodge too – this is the link to my UK catalogue:
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Garden-Essentials-1/Beepol-Lodge-Hive_2.html
Perhaps there may be some available in the US too.
I have heard a few horror stories about the use of pesticides in various states – now I read they will be using a constituent of Agent Orange to spray crops that have become resistant to the usual toxins!
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We started 2 hives in our garden last year! Its going well … and both seem to be hardy and healthy! We have Russian honey bees which are more tolerant of disease and mites. Alas they are a bit more aggressive….. It looks like we may experiment with an Italian queen this year and see how it goes. Italians are more laid back 😉
My husband loves keeping them. And this year we hope to have lots of honey to sell 🙂
We also have a local mentor to call on when we have questions and to give us a hand. If your Beekeepers Association has a mentor program, then I’d really recommend you take the plunge!
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That is encouraging! Good advice too, I don’t want my current bee residents chased away by pushy newcomers, lol. I thing I very well may go for it. So many things to make with honey and beeswax
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I’ve only ever had one garden in my whole life and then it was a rented plot where I just had to plant, weed, and pick the spoils! As for beekeeping, I don’t know the first thing about it but we have a good friend who does it and sells his products at the Farmers Market. He loves what he does — and I love his products! 😀
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A lot of the things I made for my store used beeswax and I love honey! Do you ever see bumblebees where you live?….that reminds me , your post on the ladybug was GREAT!! I had no idea they looked like that with their wings spread!
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Now that you mention it, I do see bumblebees but not nearly as much as I used to. Thanks for your comment on the ladybug post. I never realized they had those “hidden” wings either! 😀
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It’s so true- the beekeeping world is intimidating, I’m in the same boat after reading and researching. Happily there are plenty of bees around enjoying our land- someone keeps them around here. I hope this will be your bee year! You go girl! You never know until you dive in!
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Lol!! Thanks, I think I will…can’t be that confusing in real life
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Unfortunately there are not enough bees around my neighborhood. Nothing grows great in my yard. We need more bees. I think you should go for it, Cindy.
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I think I will, Sue! How frustrating it must be to have challenging conditions for a garden:(
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Thanks for the link!
It disgusts me that greed and profit motivate people and businesses to poison everything and everybody- then market themselves with shameless lies
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This winter, a tree fell on our only surviving hive. We’ve done out best, but that doesn’t keep the dumb bugs from swarming, or being attacked by the neighbor’s dumb bugs, or a whole bunch of other possibilities. I’m sure we’ll replace the hives once Hubby is back on his feet.
Those suits are neat looking, but they’re HOT!
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My advice to anyone who is daring to forge a new path is always “Start small but START.” (Of course, I don’t take my own advice, judging by my lack of chickens or goats OR bees!) . . .You first – I’ll follow.
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Good advice! We can spend the same energy doing things that inspire us that we spend convincing ourselves not to do them, lol.
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Our bees are in trouble and I agree that you should become a beekeeper!
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Hi Camelia! Save the bees!! and the Monarchs too! I will be planting lots of milkweed this year
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When we first moved here there was a hive living in the walls of an old house. It had been there since I was a boy, so for at least 30 years. We hired someone to remove them and put in them in a bee box. I bought Beekeeping for Dummies and that was the full extent of my training. We kept that hive for years, and eventually caught a swarm so that we had two hives. We extracted lots of honey and I considered beekeeping to be just about the easiest thing to do on the farm.
But over the years that has changed. We eventually lost both of those hives. Since then we’ve bought four more and while some made it for a few years they eventually all died or left. Keeping bees is much harder now than it used to be.
I now have a bee suit, an extractor, and enough equipment for at least 4 hives. But no bees.
So I’ve decided to go back to square one. I start a beekeeping class about a month for now. We’ll see how it goes.
By the way, I’m still thinking about how to answer your questions. 🙂
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There was a lot of talk at bee school about losing hives and finding piles of dead bees. Their flight radius is 3 miles. All the herbicide and insecticide applications must be a big factor. You are rural, living clean and have a lot of land so it seems to me that your bees will have a lot going for them. I am glad to hear that you are bringing the hives back! Here, people use chemical treatments like crazy..perfect lawns with plants bought from places that treat them with poison.
“Beekeeping for Dummies”..lol. I set up this blog starting with “Blogging for Dummies”.
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One of the best selling points for keeping bees is that beekeepers tend to have very long healthy lives. Lots of fresh air, gentle exercise and honey. Yum!
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Best I’ve heard yet!
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Great comments here, too many to “like” them all. We don’t have bees yet, but are planning on top bar hives, which are closer to the way that bees live naturally. Have you checked them out? The bumble bee house that looks like a dog house is fascinating. We have bumble bees to house in our area.
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I am planning on top bar hives too, for the same reason. I’m also considering holding off on buying bees and seeing if I can attract a swarm like JeffPermie suggested
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I say go for it!! Face those fears…if you have had this in your mind for a long time then you are supposed to do it!! My girlfriend’s son has always had a fascination with bees…he went to a seminar last month and I believe his hives are on the way…think he had to get them before spring. I will let you know how he does!! Much love! ❤
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Thanks Lorrie, I agree with you! My Uncle texted me and offered me his equipment…I didnt even know he kept bees. I think that is a big message to go for it! I would love to hear how another Newbie does with them<3
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I will keep you posted!! Best of luck ❤
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If you love bees and want to garden, you can also grow a bee-friendly garden (and, as I learned last year–they loooove tomatoes!). You don’t get honey but you do get to provide food for the pollinators and they’ll do your veggies a favor in return! Of course, you can do both–raise honeybees and provide for wild bees. It doesn’t have to be (bee?) fancy, either. Planting a clover patch will start you off. Good luck, whatever you decide! 🙂
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Thank you!! I love little clover flowers
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