Who has bees?

[Headfry]

C'mon flytrap....come and join us! you will love it. Where in Essex are you?
I am Ex-Essex !

[Flytrap]

Hi Headfry, I'm doing the studying/research bit at the moment

I'm near Chelmsford but hope to move at some point to escape my nasty/noisy neighbours!

Flytrap

[Headfry]

I was near Maldon!

[Hilary B]

I kept bees for a while. Long time ago now. Had to move house, too far to take them along......
Isn't the snag with cut comb that you use up a lot of wax, which takes a lot of honey to produce?

[Flytrap]

Have ordered Beesontoast's 'The Barefoot Beekeeper' and looking forward to its arrival. Decided to go for the proper printed version rather than the download. I like to hold books while reading, it's somehow less satisfying reading off my laptop.
Also downloaded the free 'How to Build a Top Bar Hive' in PDF format. Looks like a future project for me!

Cheers,
Flytrap

[Headfry]

Well done Flytrap, seems like you are on your way!
Guessing there must be 5 or so beekeepers on here now?

[Flytrap]

Have ordered Beesontoast's 'The Barefoot Beekeeper' and looking forward to its arrival.

The Barefoot Beekeeper book arrived today! Will have a read of that over the weekend. Looks very interesting. From the bit I've read so far the TBH method looks like the way I would like to go with bee keeping. A previous book I read, using the normal hive methods, confused me and looked complicated. Will report back what I think of The Barefoot Beekeeper and the TBH method.

Flytrap

[trebellangeminired]

I might have a colony!!!

Dear Headfry, Plot17b, Crichmond, beesontoast and all beekeepers of the vine,

I might have a colony!!!

I’ve been having trouble getting to the teaching apiary of my local beekeepers and OH was talking about this at work. One of his colleagues told him about an elderly beekeeper who he helped with his hives. To cut a long story short, a meeting was arranged for this afternoon and colleague, OH and I spent a couple of very pleasant hours with a very kind couple and their bees. He opened one of his hives and went through the whole process. Before we left he showed me a nucleus hive and said if it survives the winter in good condition I could have it! I would pay for it of course but how fabulous to have the possibility of a colony for next spring. I am so utterly thrilled I had to share with you.

Today was also the first time I had come up close and personal with bees in and around their hive. It was brilliant and we didn't get stung. They were so quiet and lovely to watch going about their bee business. He loaned us veils which gives us an idea of which type we prefer to buy. He even gave a taste of his small honey harvest, still on the comb. Absolutely wonderful.

We have a lot of work to do now preparing the hive but lots of time to do it in.

Can’t wait

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Guys, another Grape thinking of keeping bees over here in Manchester / Cheshire! Any advice, contacts or encouragement definitely welcome!

We've plenty of room at the back of both our plots for a hive or two, and after talking to another plotholder today who is interested in keeping bees (and checking with the council liason that we can keep bees - which we can as long as no-one has any problems locally, and are affiliated to a national beekeepers org etc), so definitely thinking about it!

Anyone want to provide us with some encouragement?