New Hobby: Bee Keeping

massphatness · 02-20-2017, 02:37 PM

Grace and I have been talking about keeping honey bees for a couple years, and we finally got serious about it this winter; did some reading and attended a couple of presentations. I enrolled in a 6-week bee keeping class that started this past weekend and just placed my order for a starter hive & initial package of bees that will be ready for us around mid-April.

Not looking to do anything more than maintain a single hive for the moment. But even with just one hive, given the proper oversight and care, you can yield 60+ lbs of honey by end of the season. I'm thinking you might see honey in future troop auctions, Secret Santa gifts and herfs. We're not doing this to produce a lot of honey, but as a fat guy with a sweet tooth, I'm not going to complain if we do.

Always been interested in honey bees, and recently their populations have been dwindling. As one of the prime pollinators, if the bees go, our food supply is negatively impacted. Again speaking as a fat guy, I need to do my part to ensure the food supply remains robust.

Plus I already have the smoking part of bee keeping down. I just may opt to blow some ERDM Choix their way instead of whatever the hell it is they put in the bee smoker.

Will keep this thread updated with what I am sure will be an (occasionally comical) adventure.

Mr.Maduro · 02-20-2017, 03:04 PM

At work, we have a couple on the roof. They are maintained by Best Bees (out of Boston)

They are a big hit with the tenants and we jar up the honey every year and distribute it to them. The anti-allergen benefits of local honey is amazing also. And it tastes great

markem · 02-20-2017, 04:04 PM

Have you been in touch with Shade? It's a great day when I can get some of his honey.

Steve · 02-20-2017, 04:36 PM

croatan · 02-20-2017, 04:41 PM

Interesting, Vin! I think that the fear of getting stung and crying like a baby outweighs the potential benefit for me personally at this point, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how this progresses and watching you make some tasty honey!

Tio Gato · 02-20-2017, 05:13 PM

That's great Vin. Check with your tax person. You may qualify as a farm and have hugely reduced property tax. I red Jon Bon Jovi keeps bees at his huge mansion in NJ. His property tax was reduced from 10's of thousands to 500 bucks a year. That's more money for cigars.

HabanosBob · 02-20-2017, 05:39 PM

Glad you're doing your part to insure the future of our food supply!!

pnoon · 02-20-2017, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croatan

Interesting, Vin! I think that the fear of getting stung and crying like a baby outweighs the potential benefit for me personally at this point, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how this progresses and watching you make some tasty honey!

sigsauer · 02-20-2017, 06:52 PM

this is an awesome hobby......someday!

hudd · 02-20-2017, 09:29 PM

Good for you! We need bees to survive.

CigarNut · 02-20-2017, 09:39 PM

Very cool, Vin!

bonjing · 02-20-2017, 09:45 PM

That sounds awesome Vin! Bees are pretty cool.

AdamJoshua · 02-20-2017, 11:40 PM

As another fat guy I'd like to thank you for doing your part in ensuring the food flows! I bee-lieve that our entire food chain relies on bees, not just part of it, also growing up in FL we went to a bee farm and they used pine needles in the smoke guns, now with legalization in MA you can kick it up a notch for them. A side not you can do much with the wax as well. Best of luck on your unbeelievable new adventure.

tsolomon · 02-21-2017, 07:43 AM

I looked into bee keeping here in Maryland and attended an 8 week class on it taught by local bee keepers and decided against it. We have a very short nectar season and hive losses around 50 - 80% each year. The one suggestion that they did make was to have a minimum of 2 hives so you can evaluate how they are doing by comparing hives. Good luck and I hope you do well with this.

8lug · 02-21-2017, 08:06 AM

Vin, that's very cool. If you don't mind me asking where are you taking the class? I'd like to get some info.

Fat guys need to unite to save food source.

shark · 02-21-2017, 08:37 AM

Cool!

Bee a bee charmer:

mosesbotbol · 02-21-2017, 09:02 AM

I'll gladly buy honey off of you! There is a lot of beekeeping near me in Holliston & Ashland due to the apple farms.

Was thinking of getting in bee hives as well, but figure I can just buy local honey down the road...

icehog3 · 02-21-2017, 11:11 AM

I have had a wonderful time visiting you the past few summers, Vin, and look forward to seeing you elsewhere in the future.

massphatness · 02-21-2017, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

I have had a wonderful time visiting you the past few summers, Vin, and look forward to seeing you elsewhere in the future.

We're going to herf in the back yard this year -- the bees will be out front. That's a good 250 feet away.

OLS · 02-21-2017, 03:48 PM

I almost think that you should just let them keep all their honey, at least to the point where you end up with more
than one hive. Then maybe start taking some for daddy. I don't know if anyone really knows just how to keep the
bees around forever when they can't figure out what's really going on yet. In any case, you are a guy that goes over-
board to be kind, I am sure it will work out.

02-20-2017, 02:37 PM	#1
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	New Hobby: Bee Keeping Grace and I have been talking about keeping honey bees for a couple years, and we finally got serious about it this winter; did some reading and attended a couple of presentations. I enrolled in a 6-week bee keeping class that started this past weekend and just placed my order for a starter hive & initial package of bees that will be ready for us around mid-April. Not looking to do anything more than maintain a single hive for the moment. But even with just one hive, given the proper oversight and care, you can yield 60+ lbs of honey by end of the season. I'm thinking you might see honey in future troop auctions, Secret Santa gifts and herfs. We're not doing this to produce a lot of honey, but as a fat guy with a sweet tooth, I'm not going to complain if we do. Always been interested in honey bees, and recently their populations have been dwindling. As one of the prime pollinators, if the bees go, our food supply is negatively impacted. Again speaking as a fat guy, I need to do my part to ensure the food supply remains robust. Plus I already have the smoking part of bee keeping down. I just may opt to blow some ERDM Choix their way instead of whatever the hell it is they put in the bee smoker. Will keep this thread updated with what I am sure will be an (occasionally comical) adventure. __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

02-20-2017, 03:04 PM	#2
Mr.Maduro In Domino Confido Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Patrick Location: La Casa del Blueface Posts: 2,905 Trading: (83)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping At work, we have a couple on the roof. They are maintained by Best Bees (out of Boston) They are a big hit with the tenants and we jar up the honey every year and distribute it to them. The anti-allergen benefits of local honey is amazing also. And it tastes great __________________ "Patrick...You low-rent f#@k!!!" - MACMS (Shack V)

02-20-2017, 04:04 PM	#3
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,625 Trading: (47)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Have you been in touch with Shade? It's a great day when I can get some of his honey. __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

02-20-2017, 04:36 PM	#4
Steve Dad Jokester Supreme Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Steve Location: 17 R 435648 3354895 Posts: 7,715 Trading: (6)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping __________________ ...So don't sit upon the shoreline and say you're satisfied, Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance that tide

02-20-2017, 04:41 PM	#5
croatan Missing Peter Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: James Location: la Vuelta Abajo Posts: 3,727 Trading: (6)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Interesting, Vin! I think that the fear of getting stung and crying like a baby outweighs the potential benefit for me personally at this point, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how this progresses and watching you make some tasty honey! __________________ Fumo ergo sum.

02-20-2017, 05:13 PM	#6
Tio Gato Uncle Kitty Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Casa Grande, AZ Posts: 2,075 Trading: (11)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping That's great Vin. Check with your tax person. You may qualify as a farm and have hugely reduced property tax. I red Jon Bon Jovi keeps bees at his huge mansion in NJ. His property tax was reduced from 10's of thousands to 500 bucks a year. That's more money for cigars. __________________ "You stink like cigars Uncle Kitty!" Said my Boo age 3. "Kid, take care of your family and the hell with anyone else" My Grandpa Bubba. Last edited by Tio Gato; 02-20-2017 at 05:14 PM. Reason: spelling

02-20-2017, 05:39 PM	#7
HabanosBob Still Watching My Back Join Date: Apr 2014 First Name: Bob Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 84 Trading: (0)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Glad you're doing your part to insure the future of our food supply!!

02-20-2017, 06:52 PM	#9
sigsauer Have My Own Room Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,371 Trading: (63)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping this is an awesome hobby......someday!

02-20-2017, 09:29 PM	#10
hudd Still Watching My Back Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 210 Trading: (0)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Good for you! We need bees to survive.

02-20-2017, 09:39 PM	#11
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Very cool, Vin! __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

02-20-2017, 09:45 PM	#12
bonjing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,012 Trading: (39)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping That sounds awesome Vin! Bees are pretty cool. __________________ Be Excellent to Each Other - Bill & Ted

02-20-2017, 11:40 PM	#13
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping As another fat guy I'd like to thank you for doing your part in ensuring the food flows! I bee-lieve that our entire food chain relies on bees, not just part of it, also growing up in FL we went to a bee farm and they used pine needles in the smoke guns, now with legalization in MA you can kick it up a notch for them. A side not you can do much with the wax as well. Best of luck on your unbeelievable new adventure.

02-21-2017, 07:43 AM	#14
tsolomon Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 1,246 Trading: (31)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I looked into bee keeping here in Maryland and attended an 8 week class on it taught by local bee keepers and decided against it. We have a very short nectar season and hive losses around 50 - 80% each year. The one suggestion that they did make was to have a minimum of 2 hives so you can evaluate how they are doing by comparing hives. Good luck and I hope you do well with this.

02-21-2017, 08:06 AM	#15
8lug Smoking with the Chief Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Masshole Posts: 799 Trading: (14)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Vin, that's very cool. If you don't mind me asking where are you taking the class? I'd like to get some info. Fat guys need to unite to save food source.

02-21-2017, 08:37 AM	#16
shark Cigar Smokin' Patriot Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Ron Location: Michigan Posts: 3,584 Trading: (0)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Cool! Bee a bee charmer: __________________ Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds

02-21-2017, 09:02 AM	#17
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I'll gladly buy honey off of you! There is a lot of beekeeping near me in Holliston & Ashland due to the apple farms. Was thinking of getting in bee hives as well, but figure I can just buy local honey down the road... __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's Last edited by mosesbotbol; 02-21-2017 at 09:10 AM.

02-21-2017, 11:11 AM	#18
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,440 Trading: (60)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I have had a wonderful time visiting you the past few summers, Vin, and look forward to seeing you elsewhere in the future. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

02-21-2017, 03:48 PM	#20
OLS Suck It Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Brad Location: TN Posts: 7,912 Trading: (19)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I almost think that you should just let them keep all their honey, at least to the point where you end up with more than one hive. Then maybe start taking some for daddy. I don't know if anyone really knows just how to keep the bees around forever when they can't figure out what's really going on yet. In any case, you are a guy that goes over- board to be kind, I am sure it will work out.