Who on the Vine wants to keep Bees?

[northepaul]

Always wanted to...sadly it will stay a pipe dream methinks!!

[BigShot]

Why's that? They don't take up much space and need very little work if approached correctly.
If you want to...

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Bigshot,

All our hive entrances are facing away from the door, so we approach them from behind, I think the piccy you are referring to is the one below.....



What looks like the entrances is actually the varroa floor inserts, sheets of poly that we can withdraw from under the mesh floor that allows us to count how many varroa mite drop we;ve had!

HTH

[northepaul]

Why's that? They don't take up much space and need very little work if approached correctly.
If you want to...

See "Bees and Horses...big problem?" thread

[BigShot]

Mrd D.
Yea, with you now. I've never had a national in bits so not completely familiar with the front and back.
That is indeed the photo I meant.


northepaul - I see. How about in a garden/balcony/rooftop/other?
Since I started looking I find myself quite surprised at just how many suitable spots I see around town.

[northepaul]

northepaul - I see. How about in a garden/balcony/rooftop/other?
Since I started looking I find myself quite surprised at just how many suitable spots I see around town.

I did think that when we moved in here, but unfortunately my neighbour's youngest is severely allergic to bee stings....and I didnt want to cause trouble....

[mrbadexample]

Hello. My name is mrbadexample and I think I'd like to keep bees.

What do you have to consider regarding a suitable location please?

[raine]

We would love to do it but have only got a small garden and i'm not sure what the neighbours would think- they love the chickens though.....

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Guys, you dont need a lot of space to keep bees, and it doesnt need to be at ground level!

Basically you need an area big enough for the hive (2' square), with room at the front for the bees to exit (2' is fine) and space for you to move around the hive, so a space of 5' square would be fine for a single hive, or 5' by 8' for 2 hives.

Ideally it needs to be sheltered (tho it doesnt have to be) and if in an area where people are, then Id recommend having some form of fencing to get the bees to fly away above head height (we use the willow and bamboo fencing on the allotment)

If space is at a premium, then you could look at on top of a flat roof (assuming its reinforced to take your weight when you are doing the inspections) such as a garage or extension, or you could ask local farmers if they would mind you putting a hive (or two) at the edge of one of their fields. Usually they are happy to do this as they know they will get increased pollination from your bees!

As a last resort, you could ask around at your local BBKA group, it is possible that someone will have room at their apiary (or even their 'out' apiary) for you to put a hive or two!

HTH

[miss_corerupted]

I would love to have bees, but i don't have the time really.

Got the land but no time.

[Mrs Dobby]

We're working this coming weekend, but from the Friday afterwards are on hols for a week, so you;d be welcome to come over, you could even come to the plant sale on the Sunday (1st May) and sample some of the honey if you like?

[miss_corerupted]

Thank you Suzanne. I live in south east wales so its quite a long trip for me

I was thinking about offering to house someone elses hive and them look after the bees and have some of the honey in payment..

it might take some time convincing other half lol

[Mrs Dobby]

You may be surprised Miss C, a lot of beekeepers do look for a secondary place to keep bees (commonly referred to as an 'Out Apiary'), a place at least 3 miles from their original site, where they can move colonies to if they run out of room, or if they have a problem hive. I'd contact your local BBKA group (search the interweb for it) and see if anyone is looking for an Out Apiary, you may get someone who's willing to house their bees on your land and will build the apiary and provide you with some honey in return, good luck!

[BigShot]

Thank you Suzanne. I live in south east wales so its quite a long trip for me

I was thinking about offering to house someone elses hive and them look after the bees and have some of the honey in payment..

it might take some time convincing other half lol

I agree with Mrs D's reply... just to add a bit though, if you'd like it to be a hive you have have a nosy inside once in a while, SOME who use top bar hives put an observation window in the back (out of the bees flight path that way) with a door over it. That way you can actually watch the bees inside the hive with minimal disturbance.

The BBKA may not be able to help you on that front as many top bar beekeepers aren't members... however your local bee inspector may well know some who are looking for an out apiary, or an ad on the biobees forum may well get someone putting a hive in your garden.

Obviously if you just want bees there it makes little difference what kind of hive they are in, but if you'd like to watch, a top bar hive with an observation window could be a real treat.


(And yes, I know I mention top bars a lot... I'm just a fan. )

[miss_corerupted]

I'm very lucky. I live on a farm so I was thinking of having them quite far away from the house.

My boyfriend thinks its a good idea, but we have to discusss it with his mam first (he thinks she won't be keen).

We are hoping in a few years to open a farm shop and if the Bee keeper was happy i was thinknig this would be some thing additinal in the shop