Any beekeepers here

[1930]

I am seriously considering getting my license, I would like to have access to the products and I feel it could easily pay for itself in a short time. From what I gather its not an overly complicated process and its not something that local or state government will be breathing down my neck on should I later decide to implement the cottage food law to my benefit.

Anyone here go thru the process? I know little to nothing about bee keeping but am anxious to learn. Thanks

 

[mcfarmall]

I didn't know you needed a license to keep bees, so I just learned something.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I am seriously considering getting my license, I would like to have access to the products and I feel it could easily pay for itself in a short time. From what I gather its not an overly complicated process and its not something that local or state government will be breathing down my neck on should I later decide to implement the cottage food law to my benefit.

Anyone here go thru the process? I know little to nothing about bee keeping but am anxious to learn. Thanks

A friend is in the commercial bee business. but. He manufactures a scale that is used to monitor the weight of the hive, remotely. I guess they use the cellular network but possibly a good app for Starlink?

According to him, there is a problem with the entire hive going down quickly. A rapid drop in weight indicates a problem and if you don't catch it, it spreads.

Is it honey that never goes bad?

 

[1930]

If stored properly ( I.E keep the lid on) it can last decades and yet people are still more concerned about their toilet paper supplies

 

[rhunt]

Why don't you first start with four hives to get a feel for the art of bee keeping? You may change your mind. Just my opinion having done this as a hobby many years ago. Bob

 

[Smokeydog]

Should bee a local group you could join and learn. Bee keepers tend to good about sharing info. Had bees for decades and helped with our style farming. Much harder to keep now with mite treatments, colony collapse and more neighbors spraying pesticides. Get a stand or two and enjoy learning. It’s fun, it’s work that has to be done on their schedule. Eating your own honey is reward enough. If you can make enough to pay expenses you are doing better than most.
Have ordered bees from Sears back in the day to try different strains. The two ladies who ran the local post office would very excitedly call me to come get them.

 

[fried1765]

I am seriously considering getting my license, I would like to have access to the products and I feel it could easily pay for itself in a short time. From what I gather its not an overly complicated process and its not something that local or state government will be breathing down my neck on should I later decide to implement the cottage food law to my benefit.

Anyone here go thru the process? I know little to nothing about bee keeping but am anxious to learn. Thanks

It may be unique to your locality, but a license to keep bees is not commonly required.

It would be wise to begin with at least two colonies.
If you can obtain 6 (or 5) frame Nuc's to start each colony it would be best.
Bees are usually sold (shipped) in either 2lb. or 3 lb. "packages", but "packages" may not produce any honey to extract/use in the 1st season.

If starting with Nuc's, there is a good chance of some honey harvest the first season.
Nuc's are approximately 3 times more expensive than "packages" though, and ..... they CANNOT be shipped.
Nuc's must be ordered at least several months in advance, and must be picked up at a bee equipment supplier!
My nearest supplier is 100 miles away!

I started with bees over 40 years ago, but had a long hiatus.
Bought all new equipment, and just restarted last year, with 2 colonies (2-6 frame Nuc's).
Left ALL their honey, and prepared them carefully for Winter,...... then left for Florida.
Came back this Spring..... to find ALL dead!

I'm gettin kinda old for this stuff!
Have not yet decided if I will try again next Spring.

 

[ctgoldwing]

Came back this Spring..... to find ALL dead!

I'm gettin kinda old for this stuff!
Have not yet decided if I will try again next Spring.

The OP had me really interested until this
That really sucks. Is it a common occurance?

 

[1930]

My plan is to do some online courses which are inexpensive and worth the cost just to learn something new.

I may attend the bee college in Gainesville assuming covid disappears after elections.

I will also look into finding a local that I can tag along with.

Id start out with only 2 colonies. No need to do any more starting out.

No idea what nucs is or any of that lingo.

 

[1930]

The OP had me really interested until this
That really sucks. Is it a common occurance?

Just in case your serious I'd like to suggest not getting discouraged so easily.

If I didn't try anything people told me I couldn't make work I'd be sitting in a corner counting plaster imperfections.

 

[fried1765]

The OP had me really interested until this
That really sucks. Is it a common occurance?

Unfortunately it is!
But other than the cost....it is a worthwhile endeavor to try.
I believe that if I had been available to monitor the condition of both of my colonies several times over the Winter, my end result MIGHT have been different.
Both colonies (each two deep supers high) had adequate honey/sugar supplement remaining, but they either froze to death, or suffered disease.
I had them wrapped in black paper, and properly vented to prevent condensation.

 

[fried1765]

The OP had me really interested until this
That really sucks. Is it a common occurance?

We are in the same latitude, and latitude is often the problem with bees!

 

[1930]

I didn't know you needed a license to keep bees, so I just learned something.

Im not sure what happened, I thought I had posted this link ENY-134/AA264: Keeping Bees in Florida

 

[fried1765]

Im not sure what happened, I thought I had posted this link ENY-134/AA264: Keeping Bees in Florida

I do not conclude that because there are "registered" bee keepers in Florida that it means a "permit" is required.

 

[newbury]

I do not conclude that because there are "registered" bee keepers in Florida that it means a "permit" is required.

Reading links can be useful.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI) is the governing body that oversees the rules and regulations of keeping honey bees in Florida. Florida has a mandatory registration law, thus each beekeeper having honey bee colonies within the state must register with the Department. Registered beekeepers will be issued a unique firm number; this number must be permanently marked on each of their hive bodies for identification purposes. Beekeepers registrations must be renewed annually, and all registered beekeepers will undergo routine inspection for symptoms of American Foulbrood by an FDACS apiary inspector. New honey bee colonies moved into Florida are also subject to inspection by the Florida Department of Agricultural Law Enforcement. Any bees or equipment found to be infested with specific pests, including American Foulbrood or African honey bees, will need to be treated or destroyed if treatment is not possible. Adulterated honey product will be confiscated. Visit the FDACS Beekeeper Registration page for more information.

I don't know what you call a "permit".

 

[fried1765]

Reading links can be useful.

I don't know what you call a "permit".

"permit" is a misquote on my part.
The OP used the term "license", ......but I am not aware that any "license" is required.

 

[TimberHole]

I have lost hives and it’s very frustrating. Sometimes I feel like we should stop calling them beehives and start calling them mite hives. I did get about 11 gallons of honey this year so better success than previous. Also tried a little candle making from the wax.

 

[1930]

Those look great

 

[fried1765]

I have lost hives and itç—´ very frustrating. Sometimes I feel like we should stop calling them beehives and start calling them mite hives. I did get about 11 gallons of honey this year so better success than previous. Also tried a little candle making from the wax.
View attachment 674875View attachment 674876

If I start up again next Spring, I will probably use 6 frame Nuc's (expensive), take off any honey in October, kill the colony, and bring the equipment in!
Wintering bees over in the North, is just too problematic for me!

 

[cqaigy2]

I've been thinking of getting back into honey bee's.

I lived in a hot summer cold winter climate. I used to have a dozen or so, just as the varroa mites were coming on to the seen in North America. All langstroth deep supers. Combination of Italian, carniolan and local bees. Would pull loads of honey off of them, left a deep super of honey on in the winter A neighbor was a professional bee keeper primarily for pollination services so i'd help him out when i had free time.

Now im looking at Layen's style hives, oxalic acid vaporization for mite treatment. Been watching the heck out of Frederick Dunn, on youtube, along with others. If i get to making the hive and frames, this winter, i'll probably look at making a Layen's bate hive and see how that goes.