Beekeeping eBooks - Your Guides Toward Beekeeping Success

A lot of areas in the globe are producers of beeswax and honey for food and medicinal reasons. In fact, you will discover that a large number of beekeeping enthusiasts are scattered all over the world. In view of the fact that beekeeping has an impact to several people and since this hobby has been modernized in some places, there is an increasing number of people who are wanting to learn more about this very satisfying and money-spinning leisure pursuit. People want to know how beekeeping is done in different ways and means on how it is being maintained, as well. It is also quite interesting to note how beekeeping has been a big part of the different cultures.




However, it is never an easy task to train someone to do beekeeping as a way of life and part of the culture. There is a need for a guide that will help any beekeeping wannabee to understand better the ins and outs of beekeeping. With today's technological advancements, the development of beekeeping eBooks has been so extensive. The coolest thing is that the beekeeping eBooks are full of informative facts and details that will help each beekeeping enthusiasts to gain more helpful and functional knowledge about beekeeping.



Most of the beekeeping eBooks contains the basics of beekeeping and the process involved as it progresses. Since honey is used for most of the foods that people consume every day, there is really a need to be engaged in an activity that will serve not only as an exciting and challenging activity but also as a food source.



With Beekeeping eBooks, you will be acquainted with the different beekeepers in the world. You will also be informed about the best seasons of starting the beekeeping adventure, the costs that you are about to outlay and a lot more facts and figures about beekeeping.



You will also take notice of the most widespread irritation to beekeepers throughout their harvesting and maintenance of the hives. With beekeeping eBooks, you will discover how to increase honey making and how to give bees a fresh delivery of flowers for pollination and for feeding so they can manufacture diverse batches and variations of honey.



So, if you want to engage in this very lucrative pursuit, make certain that you start using beekeeping eBooks now and find out the effective and proven ways of managing a beekeeping adventure. Have one yours now and become a very competitive item in the beekeeping scene.



Earl Reed is a bee keeper and his hobby is beekeeping. He has a lot of benefits to offer. If you can overcome the fear of being stung by a bee, then beekeeping can be worth a try. For more details please visit this site: Beekeeping Success



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How to Find the Right Bee Hives in the Most Convenient Way

Let's build a bee hive

If you are just a beginner in beekeeping, you need to work hard to learn everything you need to know. Beekeeping is not as simple as rearing honey bees. Yes, you will raise honey bees to harvest honey in the end. But, there are lots of things you should learn to become a successful beekeeper someday.

There are different bee equipments needed to get started. Some of the tools you need to produce are bee hives, bee smoker and fuel, beekeeper suit, hive tool, frame lifter, pollen trap, magnifying glass, and log book.



Having the right bee equipment is imperative for every beekeeper because this will help them in working with their bees without much difficulty. In finding the right equipments, you can start your search from your local beekeeping supply or online. Most beekeepers prefer buying beekeeping equipment online because this method offers them more convenience in shopping.



Different bee equipments differ in prices. If you know how to shop around, you can get great deals offered by a number of online sites. Since you will use equipments throughout your beekeeping business, it is only necessary to take care of your equipment.



Here is how you should maintain your bee equipment:



How to Maintain the Hive



• Check your hive if there are rotten boards or corners. Replace the rotten boards if possible or reconstruct them with waterproof wood filler.

• Decide to paint the hives. Choose light colors to best beat the heat of the summer.

• Clean away all burr comb and propolis found on the hive.



How to Maintain Other Bee Equipments



• Let the sun melt wax off the queen extruder. Remember not to scrape wax between the bars because you might bend them.

• Check the combs in the frames. Replace damage combs.

• If the frame is loose, you can re-glue or rewire them.

• Change any equipment found in your tool bag like sting kill, gray duct tape, nails and rope.



As a beekeeper, your main concern should not only be concentrated on your bees. You should also give time to maintain your equipment. Just like any other things, bee equipment also requires little maintenance coming from you. Proper maintaining of bee equipment will help you extend its life. This way, you can use your bee equipmentR for a couple of years.



Blake Trujillo is a bee keeper and his hobby is beekeeping. He has a lot of benefits to offer. If you can overcome the fear of being stung by a bee, then beekeeping can be worth a try.For more details please visit: Beekeeping Success



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Bee Hive Plans - Some Design Options You May Want to Consider

If you are looking for bee hive plans or considering getting into the hobby of beekeeping, here are some designs you may want to consider.




The most commonly used hive design worldwide is called the Langstroth bee hive, named after its inventor Lorenzo Langstroth. Prior to his invention, it was difficult to keep the bees from cementing the entire hive together, making it difficult to extract the honey & manage the hive.



By designing the hive with interior frames with space he called "bee space" between the frames, he was able to come up with a hive that allowed for easy removal of the frames to manage the hive & collect honey. It is estimated that 75% or more of all hive designs now in use are built according to Langstroth's design. They can be constructed with a number of different frames. There are 3, 5 & 10 frame bee hive plans available.



Some other pieces of equipment you can build yourself include:



A Bee-Vac-This is a wooden box with a small shop vac attachment. It can be used to suck bees out of an existing hive for repair or other work. It also works great for harvesting bees from wild or feral hives to get your colony started. Care should be used to adjust the amount of suction to keep from killing the bees.



A Honey Extractor-This will help use centrifugal force to spin the honey out of your frames. A kit is available with the bearing assemblies you will need.



Solar Wax Melter-This will allow you to render the wax from your hive. Should be painted black for maximum heat retention.



Swarm Catcher Frame-This will allow you to harvest wild or feral bees from their hives.



Miller Type Feeder-Designed to place on top of a Langstroth type hive to allow large quantities of bee feed to be given without disrupting the bees or subjecting the keeper to stings.



Bee hive plans for all the equipment mentioned in this article are available at http://www.diywoodworkingprojects.info. In addition, you will find plans for any number of other DIY home woodworking projects.



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Home Beekeeping - What You Need to Know to Be Successful in This Amazing Hobby

Individuals have participated in the hobby of home beekeeping for generations.




Though the process of keeping bees has changed somewhat during this time, millions of people still find it to be quite rewarding and fascinating. Beekeeping is a hobby that takes dedication, a bit of skill, and a good deal of patience.



It is not a hobby you can do part time or just when you have some extra time. You will need to ensure you can dedicate adequate amounts of time to care for your bees, and make sure the hive is as healthy as possible.



So, what does home beekeeping have to offer?



Bees provide plenty of benefits and they can be kept for many different purposes.



Everyone knows bees can be kept for the production of honey, however many people also choose to keep bees for beeswax harvesting, crop pollination, for selling to other beekeepers, and for the purpose of repopulating wild colonies.



Each year, the number of beekeepers continues to grow.



People in many different regions all over the world partake in this pastime, many of which are home beekeepers. These people keep bees in small hives, in their backyards for a personal yearly harvest.



While just about every beekeeper will tell you the hobby requires a good deal of patience, commitment, and dedication, they will also tell you that the end result is well worth the effort. Take a bit of time to really learn as much as you can before you start this process.



Hopefully you will find home beekeeping to be a very interesting, fun, and relaxing activity.



The most important thing with beekeeping is to educate yourself on all there is to know about how to get started.



Modern Beekeeping is a comprehensive guide created just for beginners that truly want to get the most out of this hobby. Find out what all the buzz is about and get your home beekeeping hobby off to a successful start.



Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_B._Mills

Beekeeping Beginners - Ten Reasons to Begin Beekeeping!

Perhaps you are wondering about whether to start beekeeping. But you are not sure. All those hours in the office are wearing you down. You notice that when you go to the beach or to a farm you can really relax. So you have been thinking lately that you would like to spend more time in the outdoors; maybe even most of your weekends. You have been trying to think of a hobby and a little voice somewhere said beekeeping. You are not sure why. It might be that you saw a film like The Secret Life of Bees, and it left an impression on you.



Beekeeping beginners wanting reasons to start beekeeping should read this List of Ten:



1. Beekeeping beginners will satisfy their need to know more about beekeeping



If you are reading this you have an interest in beekeeping. If you try beekeeping you may become fascinated with bees, and this will lead to rewarding changes in your life.



2. Beekeeping beginners can sell their honey



As you progress beyond the beekeeping beginners' level you will begin to make some money. As your understanding deepens you will begin to see opportunities. Your hobby may mean a good second income. It may become a full time occupation!



3. Beekeeping beginners can give presents of bee products to friends



If you are like me, you cannot think of anything to give friends for birthdays or at Christmas. Honey is something that most people use. It is a gift that represents your hard work. This gives your present of honey an added meaning for you and your friends.



4. Beekeeping beginners will re-connect with nature by doing something outdoors with their hands



You probably have experienced how nature can regenerate you. It slows your mind down. You become more aware of your surroundings. You can smell the trees, the flowers, and the grasses. You can feel the sea and the wind. Beekeeping brings you back to your self.



5. Beekeeping beginners will help pollinate flowers



Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has made an enormous impact on bee numbers around the world. The human food supply has been affected. If you are community-minded you will get satisfaction knowing your bees are helping the food supply through pollination.



6. Beekeeping beginners will be responsible for living things



You may be aware of how caring for a pet; a dog or a cat, makes you happier. Bees, unlike cats and dogs, cannot be cuddled and are not cute, but they will require care!



7. Beekeeping beginners will meet other beekeepers



Beekeepers are a different breed who are fiercely independent. They are very focused production and they are usually very active. You will learn about them and they will hopefully tell you some beekeeping tricks and short cuts! You could also gain a new social network.



8. You will find out if beekeeping commercially is an option



As a beekeeping beginners you will know quickly if you are meant to be a beekeeper. You will know in a few months. If it is not for you, have no regrets. But if you love it, you will be able to follow your passion!



9. Beginning beekeepers can educate others. For instance, children



If you have children they will gain an appreciation for nature and a knowledge of at least one way of getting food from nature. They will know that honey is not grown on a supermarket shelf! The value of this to a child is immense.



10. You will be able to apply your beekeeping beginners knowledge in your life



Your understanding of bee organization my help you in your own life. You will see the ruthlessness of nature. You will see the beauty of nature's design. There are always ways to take what you have learned from nature and use it in your work or daily life.



These Ten Reasons, hopefully, have convinced you or inspired you to start a brand new chapter in your life!



Bill Rutherfurd writes on Beekeeping and Bee related subjects. He is developing a site for marketing bee products but it is not yet live. For more information for the beekeeping beginner please visit:



http://www.squidoo.com/beekeepingbeginners



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Honey Extractors For Your Beehive

Honey extractors are mechanical devices used for honey extraction during honey harvest. The main advantage of a honey extractor is the extraction of honey without destroying the honey comb. Honey extractors work by the principle of centrifugal force. A frame with honey spins in the extractor drum so that the honey flings out. After honey extraction the honey comb remains intact in the extraction chamber and hence this can be further used in the beehive.

Before using the honey frames inside the extraction chamber for extraction, these frames have to be uncapped for its storage of honey. There are a number of tools supplied by the beekeeping supplies for this purpose. Uncapping knifes, uncapping forks or electrically driven uncapping equipments are a few among them. While extraction expels out of the uncapped cells due to centrifugal force, flows down through the wall and finally pools at the bottom of the extraction chamber, which can be tapped out for further processing. Honey pumps are also used for the removal of honey from the extraction chamber.



Types of extractors include tangential and radial ones depending on how the frame is put in the extractor basket. The top of the frame face outwards in radial honey extractor whereas in tangential ones one side of the frame face outwards. Radial types are used in commercial honey extractors. The amount of work applied to radial ones are less when compared with tangential ones as they do not need to turn over of the honey comb to extract honey from the other side. Extractors are of different sizes. For commercial uses extractors can hold over hundred frames at a time where as small honey extractor normally holds two frames.



You can also make your own honey extractors with some great ideas available across the internet. Of all the methods the conversion of an antique washing machine to a honey extractor is a pretty interesting one. If a extractor is not affordable, you can choose any of these simple extractor construction ideas. Many of these are economical and also you can make use of the several antique pieces available at home.



Some alternatives used other than extraction in some counties is just cutting the honey comb and using it as cut comb honey. Whereas in some countries they take out honey comb from the frame and squeeze it out for honey extraction.

A variety of extractors with different sizes and dimensions are available with bee supplies. The commercially used medium ones normally use 30 or 60 frames at a time in a small farm. Normally honey extractors are of reasonable cost. It becomes more expensive when the shipping charge is added to it. For small scale producers most of them consider it as not worth to invest such a huge amount for extractors. Hence if you have some technical and carpentry skills make use of it for constructing your own extractors.



Conclusively, just like bees keep their hives protected from ants and other foreigners. It is preferable to clean or keep your honey extractor in a safe place for you can increase its life for several years ahead.



If you found this article interesting and informative, and you would like to learn more about the joys of Beekeeping, please visit my Blog at http://www.goodbeekeeping.com



Regards, Mick.



http://www.goodbeekeeping.com



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Beekeeping - Apiaries And Hives That Bee Colonies Call Home

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors collected honey from wild beehives they chanced upon. The hive was routinely completely destroyed and rendered useless. The bee colony would've no other choice but to build again in a different spot.




Bee Colonies Contain Thousands of Individual Bees.



This rough treatment of the hive and comb also resulted in the honey being full of contaminates. But, there was no grounds to worry since they didn't need to keep the honey for long periods. They consumed what they gleaned and they simply raided another hive and got some more.



Early attempts at collecting the honey from local beehives were not much better. Fixed frame beehives were generally used, this meaning that the complete hive was sunk to get the honey.



After the comb was pulled from the hive, it was completely crushed and the honey extracted. This demolished the larva and eggs of the bees and left the beekeeper with contaminated honey. Purification of the honey was only fairly effective and didn't keep well for long periods.



The biggest trouble with this type of beekeeping idea is that the entire colony is destroyed come harvest time. Obviously, the entire operation had to be started all over again. Hives would need to be built again, and a new colony of bees had to be found and inserted. Honey simply could not be delivered on a fixed basis, it was too ineffectual.



The discovery of the top bar beehive by Langstroth in the middle of the 1800's was just what apiculturists needed. This gentleman truly changed everything in the apiculture world. His advanced plans granted for a top access and removable frames. Not only did this allow for easier removal of the honey, but the colony and hive would not be wiped out.



Entire Colonies Are Maintained In Man-Made Hives.



In addition, Langstroth's hive afford the beekeeper to inspect the colony. At last, beekeepers could reduce parasites and diseases in the hive. Honey production and hardiness of the colony both increased dramatically.



Apiarists could now maintain a steady supply of honey in lieu of the sporadic production of the past. The caliber and purity of the honey that was harvested accelerated as well.



That basic beehive innovation is still being used in approximately 75% of beekeeping operations around the world. Regionally, the hives may appear different, but the idea is the same. One such variant is called a bar and frame beehive. It has a slanted roof like a cottage would have. This keeps rainfall out of the hive.



Determining the size of hive to construct for your colony is a subject of conditions. Bees will continue to reside in their hive year round but will require security from extremes. In frigid weather climates, what are known as double-deep boxes are used. In other areas, a single box unit works all right. The key is to assure your bees are comfy in their home.



Apiaries House Groupings of Hives Comprising Several Colonies.



In some cases, several groups of bees and their hives are live in what's called a bee house. This is an open construction that assists as protection and shade from the elements. Several hundred of colonies are kept at commercial apiaries, while a home apiary may have only a just a few.



With a good apiary plan, a beekeeper can comfortably set up his own apiary to the size he calls for.



Groups of hives are also maintained in natural settings such as alongside a flower-laden meadow or agriculture field. Groves of standing timber or the edge of woodland around wild flower fields make the best natural apiaries. They afford shade and security as well as a nearby food source. Bees need to rehydrate and having a pool or other body of water close is a must.



One consideration for where the hive is located, is the honey you wish to produce. Bees that feed off of flowers such as clover produce pale colored, mild flavored honey. In contrast, bees feeding from plants such as buckwheat give rise to a very dark honey. This dark honey is exceedingly potent in flavor and is said to contain a lot more antioxidants.



Once set up in the hive, the bees can go to work for you. Sure, they will be producing golden honey and bees wax nearly constantly, however they can accomplish even more. Many beekeepers pack up their hives and lease them out to farmers for pollination.



Bees are a necessity to pollinate about 50% of the food that we consume. These dynamic tiny creatures ensure the farmers crop produces food that he can harvest. Meanwhile, the bees get a free meal that they turn into combs full of rich, golden honey. It's a near ideal partnership between mankind and nature.



Honey collection has come a long way since our early ancestors first raided a beehive. Today, beekeepers are well stocked and have more understanding of bees and their natural habitat. That really means that nearly anyone can raise bees now and produce honey, beeswax or cater bees to other beekeepers.



For more information and to request your Free Do-It-Yourself Beekeeping [http://beekeeping.biblioflip.com] articles, visit: [http://beekeeping.biblioflip.com]



K.L. "Vin" Hayes leads a group of independent authors and investigators. Over the last decade, they've worked together to develop high-quality digital reprints of vintage documents as well as original works. Vin specializes in how-to information that includes a wide variety of matters such as hunting & fishing, hobbies & crafts, construction, self-improvement and more.



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Honey bees & beekeeping: A year in the life of an apiary
 
How To Become A Bee Keeping Pro

Organization and management of apiaries producing extracted honey in the white clover region (Technical bulletin / United States Department of Agriculture)

Bee Keeping: Everything You Need to Know


New observations on the natural history of bees


Bee Keeping: Learn How to Keep Bees Successfully


Beekeeping - Learn How To Keep Bees Successfully

How To Keep Bees - Simple Beginners' Guide

Bee keeping is a hobby, believe it or not. These little stinging creatures can be a lot of fun if handled with care and there are a lot of sweet returns too. However, if you intend to take up this hobby you are best advised to get some basic knowledge about bee keeping - and the necessary mandatory equipment too if you do not want the post office calling you to collect your bees from their vicinity.



Now, the most basic piece of equipment that is required for bee keeping is the bee hive itself. Let us take some time to understand the structure and the necessity of the bee hive. It is not like you are required to go out and get yourself a natural bee hive from out of a tree. This is not at all recommended as these little creatures are very possessive of their home and the occupants so you may just as well land yourself in bed with multiple stings that may also prove fatal at times. The hive we are talking about is constructed out of wood and looks like a small wooden cabinet to be kept outdoors.



The beehive you need should have 5 supers. These are the most important part of a bee hive as this is the part of the hive that the bees use to store their product - honey. These 5 supers are placed between the base of the hive and the top cover. Each of the 5 supers contain 9 to 10 frames where the bees keep their off spring and honey. You decide if you want to have deep supers or shallow supers. Deep supers mean that you will have to get yourself a one - size foundation unlike the shallow super where you will need multiple size foundations. The bad part of a deep super is that you will have to lug out a hundred pound weight when it is full.



When you are ready to set up your hive ensure that you place it on a flat surface where it will be pretty difficult for the hive to tip over when a strong wind blows. Also place it in a place where people and animals will not be able to reach it and disturb the bees.



Now for something called a spacer. these are bits of equipment or rather wooden planks that are used to space out the frames in the super. You will need a few of these but do not worry a beehive kit will usually have all that you will require to set up your bee hive.



Now when the bees have created enough honey and you need to get it out of the hive you will need to have a 'smoker'. This is not a cigarette puffing human but a piece of bee keeping equipment that is used to 'smoke' the bees away from the hive so that you can safely collect the produce inside the supers. Smokers are simple in design and are constructed out of a funnel and bellows. You will need to use some smoking material such as 'burlap' to create a lot of smoke, dried corn cobs are another good alternative to create a lot of smoke.



Your bee hive will come with a metal hive tool used to pry open the beehive and scrape the honey from the frames. A furmer board is used to encourage the bees to leave a super and let you take their honeycombs. Now for the bees themselves, You could order them or set up your bee hive and wait patiently until they find it and build their colony themselves.



Go to the net and find the best way to order your bee hive and also the inmates. This may be the start of a very interesting hobby.



Abhishek is an avid Bee Keeping enthusiast and he has got some great Beekeeping Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 59 Pages Ebook, "How To Become A Bee-Keeping Pro!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/89/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.



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Home Bee Keeping - Simple Tips to Start Bee Keeping From Home!

Home bee keeping remains a popular past-time and it seems that more and more people these days are turning to bee keeping not only for producing their own tasty honey that they can have access to whenever they want, but also for the enjoyment and satisfaction that it brings.



The main problems is that people see keeping bees as something specialist and that they need advanced knowledge before they can even begin to do it, but this could not be further from the case - it is actually quite simple. This is why I have created this article to give you the simple steps that anyone can take to start home bee keeping today:



1.) Get The Proper Tools



Any bee keeper will need the tools of the trade to make a success of this and give themselves an easy time. Now, don't panic because it won't cost a small fortune and the items can actually be picked up for a fairly reasonable price (just do a search on Google for bee keeping sites that sell this stuff - or use eBay for even cheaper goods).



All you need to get going are 5 basic things:



- A beehive

- A beehive opening tool

- A smoke box

- Protective clothing



That's all there is to it! Obviously you need the beehive to keep the bees in, but the opening tool can be quite useful for more easily prying open the hive to get the honey and bees out if needed (but this is not essential). You will need the smoke box to placate the bees then opening the hive to avoid angering them too much and the most important part - the protective clothing to prevent stings.



2.) Now Get Your Bees!



In order to start home bee keeping, you obviously need some bees! You can get bee colonies for a reasonable price from any bee keeper or reseller (just do an internet search again) and this is the easiest and most common way to get your bees.



You can (and it is not recommended) get your bees for free by finding a bees nest in a tree, then removing the branch and shaking them (including the queen) into a transport box and then taking them home and putting them in your own hive. This does work, but you will need your protective clothing. A lot of people have unwanted bees nests in their gardens and would probably even pay you to take them away for them!



Want to start home bee keeping but don't know where to start? Don't panic, you need the simplest and easiest step-by-step advice that will have you up and running with bee keeping very quickly and won't cost you that much money either. Just visit Beginning Bee Keeping and you too can become a home bee keeper in no time!



Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_James

Three Essential Tips For Keeping Honey Bees on Your Property

From harvesting beeswax and honey, to repopulating colonies in danger, and for the purposes of crop pollination there are so many terrific reasons for keeping honey bees.




For all the bees have to offer us, shouldn't we give them the best possible conditions to thrive?



Here are three tips for keeping honey bees for your own personal use.



1. Make Sure Bees Are Fed: Bees need to be fed in cold weather conditions, as well as while they are setting up and populating a new hive.



You can mix up a simple syrup of sugar and water to feed to your bees during this time. Some beekeepers choose to feed bees by use of a Boardman feeder, however many prefer to place the syrup inside the top cover near the opening in the inner cover.



Placing the syrup inside the cover allows easy access to the food for the bees, but keeps unwanted pests out.



Bees can consume a great deal when they are first establishing a hive, so you will need to check the syrup regularly. Once the bees begin to produce honey, you can stop feeding the syrup but be sure to leave some honey in the hive for nourishment during the early spring and winter months.



2. Provide A Water Source: Water plays an important role for bees. Bees use this liquid to cool their hive during hot and humid conditions, and they also use it to dilute the honey during the production process.



Be sure to keep water a safe distance from the hive opening, as bees can drown very easily when flying in and out.



3. Think Of Your Neighbors: When keeping honey bees, you should keep the comfort of others in mind. Just because you think bees are fun to have around, does not mean your neighbors will think the same way.



Many beekeepers install a wooden fence around the hive to prevent problems. The fence should be constructed to follow the same direction as the opening of they hive, allowing for the bees to fly over the fence and away from nearby neighbors.



The most important thing with beekeeping is to educate yourself on all there is to know about how to get started.



Visit Modern Beekeeping for a comprehensive guide created just for beginners that truly want to get the most out of this hobby. Keeping honey bees is a tremendously rewarding pastime and one that you and your whole family can take part in and be proud of.



Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_B._Mills

Backyard Beekeeping - How to Turn Your Yard Into a Honey Bee Sanctuary

The U.S. honey bee population has dramatically decreased over the last two decades. The demise of these incredibly beneficial insects has received a lot of press in the last several years, and rightly so. One third of our nations food supply is at stake if the honey bees do not make it.



Fortunately, there is a lot that individuals can do to turn the tide. Turning your yard into a honey bee sanctuary is one of the best things you can do to help on a local, small-scale basis. There are two ways I recommend doing this:





Consider establishing one or two hives in your backyard. This can have a profound impact on your vegetable gardens and flowers. Many gardeners do not realize how, over the years, the proliferation of their vegetables has diminished because of the decrease in the honey bee population. This is partly why my husband and I began our incredible journey into beekeeping. For years, we struggled to get our orchard to bear any fruit. After reading articles on the importance of these little pollinators, we purchased our first two hives and have not regretted it.

Make your yard bee friendly: Avoid pesticides, if at all possible. If you must use them, try to spray late in the evenings after the bees have returned to their hives. Learn what flowers bees like and plant plenty of them in your flower beds. If you have pasture or open fields, consider planting plots of clover or alfalfa and letting the plants flower and seed. In our area, clover honey is in high demand because of its sweet, mild flavor.



If you decide to establish some hives, be aware that there is a vast amount of information online about beekeeping. New beekeepers can quickly become overwhelmed. Much of what is written online is not geared specifically towards backyard beekeeping and some of the information is contradictory and confusing.



After starting our beekeeping hobby, my husband and I quickly realized that, in our part of the country, finding a reliable source of beekeeping equipment meant driving hours, or paying high freight costs to get the equipment shipped in. Because of this challenge, my husband started building beekeeping equipment for local beekeepers. But as a result, we found ourselves bombarded with numerous questions from new beekeepers. We realized that there was a lot of beginner beekeepers who wanted simple guidelines to help them get started. Because of this, we developed some recommendations in order to take the confusion out of beekeeping and give newbies a successful start. Here are some of those suggestions:





Before you buy your first hive, read up on all the information you can. There are some excellent forums online, such as http://www.beesource.com. The winter is an excellent time of year to learn about beekeeping and it is a good idea to have a basic knowledge of what is involved before committing your time and money.

Read all you can, but be prepared to sift through the information. There are numerous methods to beekeeping. To make matters worse, beekeepers will many times contradict each other! But keep in mind that just because one beekeeper's method works well in one part of the country, does not mean it will work well where you live. In the same way, using two different types of hives can result in two completely different outcomes. For example, some beekeepers recommend using screened bottom boards on their hives because this helps with hygiene and air circulation. But if you live in an extremely cold climate, other beekeepers may recommend a solid bottom board in order to keep the hive warmer.

Be willing to take a leap of faith. So you read up on all the beekeeping information you can. Maybe you joined a local beekeeping association or tagged along with another beekeeper while he worked on his hives. Regardless of how much you now know, you will still have to make scary leaps of faith based on what you believe may be the best for your own situation. The only way to learn in beekeeping is to select a method of beekeeping that sounds right for you and go for it. Just be prepared to stumble along the way and change courses, if needed.

Join a local beekeeping association. You will meet other more experienced beekeepers who can offer you advice and recommendations based on your specific area.

Join up with another local beekeeper. Most beekeepers are more than willing to help other newcomers get started. Many have been beekeeping for years and will welcome a strong set of arms to lift honey supers and bee hives. Be prepared to work hard as you glean information and ask questions.

Do not be surprised by setbacks. We had bees mysteriously die out, queens disappear, and swarms fly away. But we also had numerous successes, as well. Beekeeping is as volatile as the wind and if you expect perfect hives, brimming full of honey every year, you will quickly get discouraged.



Small scale beekeepers are absolutely critical to the well-being of the honey bee population, so go for it!



Eileen Ranck lives in Meherrin, Virginia with her husband and three children. They own Ranck's Quality Fencing L.L.C., a premier fence contracting business that installs fences throughout Virginia and North Carolina. On the weekends, however, they can be found on their farm. They enjoy building beekeeping equipment, raising bee queens and nucs, and selling their own delicious, local Virginia honey. They are passionate about beekeeping and helping others get started in this fascinating hobby. Please visit their websites for more information.



http://www.honeyrustler.com

http://www.qualityhorsefence.com



Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eileen_Ranck

Organic Beekeeping - What Makes Such a Natural Product Truly Organic

These days, everyone seems to be preoccupied with going green, eating right, and growing, buying and eating organic products, and this includes organic honey. If you have noticed, there aren't that many organic honey producers, and that is not necessarily because beekeepers don't use natural beekeeping methods, but because the organic regulations are extremely strict.




The Definition of Organic Beekeeping



When you implement organic beekeeping, it means you use methods, and treatments that are natural, and that you avoid any type of pesticide or harmful materials. The organic beekeeper uses nutritional supplements and specialized practices which create strong honeybee colonies. Yet, everything he uses can be safely handled or even eaten by the self same beekeeper. And organic beekeeper has to follow FDA rules for organic farming, and this involved preventing disease, and treating diseases without pesticides, or chemicals.



Hive Insulation



An important part of the organic beekeepers job is keeping the bees healthy without having to use any type of chemical, and an important part of doing this is protecting the honeybee colonies in cold seasons. This is probably the most important way of preventing disease within the bee hive. Bee hives that are not protected in winter have a higher chance of getting tracheal mite or nosema, so when you help protect them, you can more easily produce organic honey. Honeybee colonies create their own warmth, and when they are helped then they won't starve or become too chilled during winter.



There are lots of ways to insulate for winter, but probably the most cost effective method is by using Styrofoam panels and tarp. Another less expensive method is, using bubble pack that is backed by foil. Just be sure that the hive entrance isn't obstructed.



Healthy Feeding Solutions for Longer Bee Life Span



Bees that are not maintained organically have a shorter lifespan, and that is because commercial beekeeping has exposed the bees to toxic substances. These toxins, plus the toxins in our environment, like that of the air, soil, plants, and water stresses the honeybee's immune system.



You need to pay attention to local surrounding water supplies, and crops that may have severe chemicals used in them. Most organic beekeepers are required to be away from population, traffic, large commercial crops. This is just one of the reasons organic beekeeping is so difficult.



An organic beekeepers job is to improve the immune system of his hive. This process required a great deal of care and dedication. As an organic beekeeper you may not see the fruits of your effort in this regard until the second generation of bees. But once you have healthier and stronger bees, they will produce more for you.



There are many beekeepers that care for their bees naturally but few can be classified as organic because of the stringent rules of the FDA.



Learn How to Master Beekeeping Like a Pro!

Visit:  http://www.ultimatebeekeeping.com/ecourse.php



Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Fullman

How Do Bees Communicate With Each Other?

Unlike human beings, bees cannot exchange by talking to each other or writing down some words. Even they do not use antenna. They are even deaf and cannot hear any voices. You may feel puzzled that they cannot communicate with each other but they always find the best flowers and work well in groups. Many scientists have done a lot of researches on the actions of bees and they were surprised to find that bees are really very clever. Read on, you will find how the bees communicate and exchange information with each other.



The bees have a special kind of language, they communicate by dancing. There are many kinds of bees in the world, but the most beneficial should be honeybees or hive bees. They usually live in hives. Each of the hives will have a queen who is responsible for creating more babies. And there are some drones and the majority of the bees are worker bees. Most of the communication happens among the worker bees. Every day, some worker bees will fly out to find the food source, when they find, they will fly back to tell others with the using of different types of dancing.



If the worker bees find a food source that is near the hive, they will fly back to the hive and perform a round dance. If they find the source that is far, they will make a waggle dance. The direction of the dance will be the direction of the source. For example, they may dance from right to left or left to right which shows the generally direction of the food source. And the total times of the dance will show the distance. The more times they dance, the further the source is. Sometimes, they will find a very good food source that is very rich; they will make the dance in higher speed. Otherwise, they will dance at lower speed.



Although the bees cannot make sounds or write, they create a special way of communicating with each other. Different bees may have different types of dances, and they establish a kind of specialty for their own species. You can also do some researches by yourself and you may find it quite interesting to observe their actions.



By Estelle J. Davis.

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Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Estelle_J._Davis

How You Can Start a Honey Bee Keeping Project

Now-a-days honey bee keeping has become quite popular home based business opportunity because honey bee keeping doesn't require a huge investment or space. If you wish then you can start it right from your backyard. But there are few pinpoints which you need to follow if you really wish to make your honey bee keeping project successful. One of the major issues which require special attention is 'collecting bees'. Let me give you a brief idea on honey bee collection.




Some major ways to collect bee's are-



1. Colonies are available for purchase from local beekeepers or from other suppliers. You can go for that. This includes queen bees and you can receive all the bees you want like queen bee, workers and drone as well for farming. This is the quickest option for a starting beekeeper.



2. Another option is to purchase a nucleus. In this option you will get a queen bee and some other worker bees. 'Nucleus' consisting of 5 to 7 frames, a fertile queen, workers, stores, brood, and probably, drones). It will bee easier to control the smaller quantity of bees in a nucleus. It is a good start.



3. Another option available is in the form of a package of bees. Usually these packages include a queen bee and a certain amount of worker bees. In this case, the worker bees would have to be feed until they can begin producing honey on their own.



4. If you do not wish to purchase bees then you can capture swarm of bees. But, it may quite monotonous for those who have just started their journey in this field. As, you first need to know how to protect yourself from swarm of bees.



When you pick up your bees they should be packaged in a special carrying case that is designed just for bees. When you travel with these bees you have to give sugar syrup as there will be scarcity of food for bees. Traveling is hard for bees so some bees may die. It is quite normal.



Another important part which requires special attention is choosing proper colony or hive. This is one of the most vital parts to make your honey bee keeping project successful. You can buy hives from a recognized seller and try to buy two colonies because when one colony will get weaker then you can exchange frames of brood and honey. A colony of bees consists of 20,000 to 60,000 honeybees, one productive queen, 10 to 12 combs, brood and foodstuffs.



You can also buy bees in package offer. In one package one queen and some worker bees are include. It is found by weight like in 2 to 5 pound packages, containing 9,000 to 22,000 bees. A three-pound package of bees, for instance, contains approximately 10,000 bees and 1 queen and is about the size of a shoebox.



Honey bee keeping is one of the most popular business now-a-days but to achieve the success in honey bee keeping one should have proper understanding on dos and don'ts. So, start your honey bee keeping project with proper knowledge.



If you would like to learn more about honey bee keeping just Click Here.



Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joy_C

Steve bridges's Reviews

Steve bridges's Reviews

I found a great e-book on energy independence here

How to Start Beekeeping For Free

Beekeeping has suddenly become popular again, having been in decline for more than half a century.




Honeybees have been in the news for all the wrong reasons: collapsing colonies, pesticide poisoning and parasitic mites - and all this bad news seems to have triggered an almost primitive desire in people to want to help and nurture this vitally-important insect that, despite all our scientific advances we still do not fully understand, but know that we cannot live without.



Ever since I can remember, beekeepers have been regarded by the media as harmless, doddery old men (mostly), who do arcane things with strange wooden boxes of bees, while dressed in sartorially suspect garb. However, this image is beginning to change, with more and more women and young people being attracted to the idea of learning this ancient craft and a new urgency in the air about preserving our honeybees for their important role as pollinators, as well as for their own sake.



When people first consider keeping bees, their most likely first port of call is their local Bee Keepers Association. Here they will almost always find a friendly welcome and a great deal of technical chat among the 'old hands', most of which will sound like a foreign language at first. When the jargon is translated, it turns out that one will be required to part with a not inconsiderable sum of money in order to buy one's ticket into this arcane world: the glossy catalogues full of shiny equipment are beguiling, but the accompanying price lists can come as quite a shock.



Many are put off the idea at this point.



But it need not be so. It is perfectly possible to become a beekeeper - even quite a good beekeeper - without blowing a good chunk of one's hard-earned savings. In fact, as I shall show you, you can even do it virtually for free!



The next hurdle to confront the would-bee keeper is the hefty weights that one is expected to lift and carry. Using conventional equipment, you need to be able to lift at least 50 pounds (about 25 kilos) dead weight from ground level - not something to try if you are lightly built and not used to box-shifting in that class.



Again, this does not have to be the case: I will show you how the least fit person can become a beekeeper. In fact, using my system, you could even work a hive from a wheelchair.



Another obstacle that may kill off the newbee's enthusiasm is that of storage space. Using conventional hives, you cannot fail to accumulate all kinds of 'extras' - odd-shaped boxes, frames, roofs, extractors - all kinds of stuff the 'old hands' forgot to mention at that first, exciting meeting - and you will need space to store it. We are talking garage space, folks. Once more I have good news: follow my system and you will not need any extra storage space, as everything can be stored inside the hives themselves.



So what does it really take to become a beekeeper?



The essentials are simple enough: some sort of hive, a hat and a veil, an old, white shirt and - to start with at least - some gloves - and the agreement of the people who share your living space. It doesn't matter whether you are a town or a country dweller, so long as there is an abundant and varied supply of flowering plants from early spring onwards. In fact, bees often do better in well-gardened, urban areas than in the 'green desert' of modern, industrial farm land.



Like many beekeeping novices, I began with a conventional, framed hive - the kind with sloped-sided outer boxes familiar from children's books. Soon, I acquired a couple more and began to realize that if I was to continue along this road, I would have to build myself a big shed in which to house all the spare woodwork and other paraphernalia that was rapidly accumulating - and I would have to find a way to pay for all the 'extras' I would soon be needing.



At this point I asked myself - does it really need to be this way? - and that innocent question led me on an exploratory mission of reading, study and experimentation that showed me conclusively that, no - it does not need to be that way: beekeeping does not need to be complicated, expensive or dependent on machine-made parts and equipment.



My search for an alternative approach led me to the top bar hive - one of the oldest and simplest types of beehive - that requires little skill and few tools to build. A good start on the road to sustainable simplicity, but is it a practical hive for modern beekeeping?



After some years of experimenting and testing various designs, I believe I now have a top bar hive design that is easy to build, practical and productive, while being comfortable and easy to use for both the bees and the beekeeper.



So what are top bar hives?



The principle is simple: a box with sticks across the top, to which bees attach their comb. Mine have central, side entrances, sloping sides and a pair of 'follower boards' to enclose the colony. There are many variations on this theme and all have the essential guiding principle of simplicity of construction and of management. There are no frames, no queen excluders, no ekes, no mouse guards, no supers, no foundation and there is no need for extractors, settling tanks, filters, de-capping knives... in fact no need for any other equipment or storage space, other than that provided within the hive itself. And if you have just spent an hour leafing through suppliers' catalogues, wondering how you can possibly afford to keep bees, that will come as some relief!



Building a top bar hive is no more difficult than putting up shelves and can be done using hand tools and recycled wood. Top bar beekeeping really is 'beekeeping for everyone' - including people with disabilities, bad backs, or a reluctance to lift boxes: there is no heavy lifting once your hives are in place, as honey is harvested one comb at a time. From the bees' point of view, top bar hives offer weatherproof shelter, the opportunity to build comb to their own design - without the constraints of man-made wax foundation - and minimal disturbance, thanks to a 'leave well alone' style of management.



So where do you get bees from?



You can buy them or catch them, or if you are lucky, they will adopt you! Catching or luring a swarm is by far the most fun - and much easier than you might think. Bees swarm in response to their instinct to reproduce - mostly in spring and early summer - and the sight of a swarm in flight is certainly impressive. However, contrary to popular belief, this is the time when they are least likely to sting you: their only concern at that moment is to find a new place to live. So if you offer them the right sort of accommodation at the right time - such as a pleasant-smelling, cosy beehive - they are very likely to move in of their own accord. Many people become beekeepers by enticing a passing swarm using a few drops of citronella or lemon grass oil, or better still, rubbing the inside of the hive with pure beeswax.



Capturing a swarm is not difficult either - hold a basket or cardboard box under their football-sized cluster on a tree branch and give a good shake! It is not always as easy as that, but it is rarely as difficult as getting a cat out of a tree.



If you think you want to keep bees, I suggest you first get to know a local beekeeper who is willing to let you visit and handle their bees. Most beekeepers' associations have 'meet the bees' days during the spring, giving newcomers a chance to see inside a hive and test their responses to being surrounded by bees.



And stings? Yes, you will get stung from time to time, however careful you are. Local swelling, redness and itching is a normal reaction: faintness, breathing difficulties and collapse are true allergic symptoms and are potentially life-threatening. Most people who keep bees become less sensitive to stings over time, but sometimes it goes the other way and occasionally an experienced beekeeper may suddenly become allergic. So if you have any reason to suppose you may be sensitive to bee venom (only about one in 200 people are) be sure to carry Benadryl or an Epipen (adrenaline injection) or ensure that whoever you are with is properly equipped to deal with an emergency.



Whether you approach it from the point of view of conservation, entomology, crop pollination or simply a love of honey, beekeeping is an engaging pursuit and a fascinating window on the natural world.



Bees are in trouble right now - from pesticides, industrial farming, pollution, parasitic mites and viruses - and we need all the 'natural' beekeepers we can get to build up their numbers and give them a chance to solve their own problems. So, if you want to keep bees, build yourself a hive before the swarm season, and you could be tasting your own honey by the end of the summer!



Free DIY plans for building a top bar hive are available from the author's web site at http://www.biobees.com - where you will also find a support and discussion forum for top bar beekeeping. The Barefoot Beekeeper is also available from this site.



My version of the top bar hive has several design features worth noting. It is simple to construct, using inexpensive - even re-cycled - materials. Reclaimed, untreated pallet timber can be used, for example. All joints are glued and screwed, which ensures strength and a long life. When empty, the hive is light enough to be lifted quite easily by one person and carried, even when occupied, by two. Because the box is bolted to the legs, it only takes a few minutes to dismantle for transport. The hive is strong, self-contained, versatile and easy to build, even by someone with only basic woodworking skills. It is also easy to manage and once the hive is in place, the heaviest lifting you will need to do is to remove the roof.



In my book, The Barefoot Beekeeper, I describe the top bar hive and its management and discuss the philosophy of natural beekeeping, in which we aim to work with the natural impulses and habits of the bees, respecting the integrity of the brood chamber, leaving them ample honey stores over winter and generally arranging things in order to cause their bees as little stress and disturbance as possible.



I hope soon to be able to welcome you to our free Top Bar Beekeeping Forum, which has members from around the world who have chosen this most fascinating way to provide homes for honeybees.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Chandler

How to Make a Honey Extractor for small beekeepers

Honey extractors, strainers & bottling tanks (British standard 1890:1952)How to Make a Honey Extractor




In order to get honey from your beehive you have to be able to extract the honey from the honey comb. In order to do this you have to have to have a honey extractor. There are manufactured honey extractors available on the market, they typically cost approximately $200 to $300, the average cost of starting a new hive of honey bees. If there is a group of beekeepers in an area they will sometimes pool their money together to purchase a honey extractor that they share. If you are not in a large beekeeping environment and do not want to spend a few hundred dollars on a manufactured honey extractor you might want to make your own.



The materials you will need to build a honey extractor include; a metal rod that is at least one meter long and is thickly threaded, two bicycle wheel rims, two pieces of wood, one meter of 2-3mm fencing wire, a large metal drum, ten bolts for the metal rod, four 400mm sections of 8mm threaded rod, a self centering bearing, six coach screws, and one pillow block bearing. When choosing a large metal drum for your homemade honey extractor make sure that is was never used to store potentially toxic materials. The tools you will need for constructing your honey extractor include; an electric drill, a welding machine (and preferably some welding experience), a socket set, and a hack saw.



The first thing your going to do is remove the end of the drum that does not have two pouring holes, the newly opened end will be the top of your honey extractor. Use the coach screws to attach one of the pieces of wood across the bottom of the drum. Once the wood is in place use coach screws to secure the pillow block. After inserting the threaded rod through the center of the first bicycle rim, securely bolt the rim to the rod approximately ten centimeters from the end of the rod. At the opposite end of the rod you will want to thread a but for the other wheel, the second wheel will rest on this nut. When both of the wheel rims are in place you will want to drill holes in four spots around each wheel, when this task is complete you use the 8mm rods to lock the wheel rims together. Use two nuts onto the rod. Make sure that two cm of rod protrude.



When this is complete you are going to cut a slit that is10mm deep and 3mm wide into the end of the rod. After this thread the lock the nuts together at the end of the rod. After you think the nuts are in place use the welding machine to permanently lock them into place. Fasten the wire to the the spokes of the bottom wheel rim, approximately 5-8cm from the rim. You have now successfully made the basket of your honey extractor.



Take your newly crafted extractor basket and place it into the drum, settling it on the pillow bearing. Now you're going to want to bolt a second piece of wood to the sides of the drum and the self centering bearing.



After drilling a screwdriver bit into the chuck, place the chuck into the slit into the slot in the top of the threaded rod.



Detailed instructions and photos about making a homemade honey extractor can be found at www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/september/honeyextractor.htm

Steve bridges's Reviews

Steve bridges's Reviews

honey bee swarming to multiply your hives

Swarming


The springtime is the time when honeybees reproduce. The natural means of reproduction for honey bees is called swarming. The springtime swarming period typically last about three weeks. Normally a single swarm of honey bees divide and becomes two during the swarming period.

Because swarming typically means a loss of production so beekeepers try to discourage the behavior. One way that beekeepers eliminate swarming in their hives is by purchasing new bees each spring to replace their previous bees that they turned out of the hives the previous fall. Another method commonly used by beekeepers to discourage swarming is the creation of a starter colony.

Creating a starter hive and then splitting it encourages bees to stay in their hives. Some beekeepers believe that bees only swarm when they have an abundance of food in the hive. Beekeepers who subscribe to this theory use a method called checker boarding to discourage their bees from swarming. When a beekeeper checkerboards their hives they remove some of the full frames of honey, giving the bees the illusion that they don't have any honey in reserve, and therefore discouraging the bees from swarming.

It is unusual for a bees to swarm when there is a new queen in the bee hive. As time passes and the Queen ages is when the hive typically prepares to swarm, generally the elderly queen leaves with the primary swarm, leaving a virgin queen in her place. When the elderly queen is getting ready to swarm with the primary swarm she stops laying eggs. She concentrates on getting fit enough to fly when she leaves the hive (the only other time the queen has flown is when she went out on her nuptial flight). When smaller swarms leave the hive they are commonly accompanied by the virgin queen.

When they first leave the hive in a swarm, bees don't typically go far from the hive they have always known. After fleeing the nest the bees settle on a nearby tree branch or under an eave. The worker bees cluster around the queen, protecting her. Once they have the queen protected, some bees, scouts, look around until they find a suitable hive to turn into their new home.

Some beekeepers see swarming as a way to restock their hives. An experienced bee keeper has no problem capturing a group of swarming bees. Beekeepers use a device to called a Nasrove Pheromone to lure swarming honey bees.

When they swarm, honey bees carry no additional food with them. The only honey they are allowed to take from the parent hive is the honey they consumed.

Although honey bees normally swarm only during the spring the same is not true of Africanized Bees, also called Killer Bees. The Africanized Bees swarm whenever they have a difficult time finding food.

Although they typically don't go after people when they are swarming, their is something about the site of a swarm of bees that scares people. It is not unusual for a beekeeper to be called out to capture a colony of swarming bees.

My grandfather and great grand father would go out in the spring and capture swarms and settle them in their hives to add to their bee numbers and I still think that capturing wild swarms here in Michigan is a great way to increase your bee hive numbers

Training to be a Beekeeper

The Backyard Beekeeper - Revised and Updated: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and GardenTraining to be a beekeeper is a time consuming skill that many take seriously because you have to share a passion for something that was once declared a simple hobby to which has joined the billion-dollar food market. The beekeeping industry has come a long way from it being a simple hobby to where it's going on tables across the world.

Many beekeepers that have not been brought up in a family that practiced this are going to have to really learn fast from an experienced beekeeper that has had years of experience from knowing the biology and study of bees and what to expect when they turn out a good product of honey. What many people aren't aware of is and this may sound kind of gross, but honey is actually regurgitated food because bees not only make honey, but they eat it as food during the winter months since there are no flowers around when it's cold so it's a way for them to sustain food through the cold months.

It's amazing that bees have mastered the art of survival during the winter months. Beekeepers also have to keep in mind that certain times of the year there may not be any honey production since bees are most active during the warm months so that's why many of them are actually farmers since they have to have a way to make a living when it gets cold. This is an expensive hobby and it may look cheap because you can make a box put some slides in them and allow the bees to come there, but the thing is that you have to know where to put the boxes for the bees to build their hives in.

You have to train yourself to be knowledgeable in the area of entomology because you have to know what insects will be compatible around bees because some insects will feed on bees, yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps which are primarily mites and are one of the most annoying insects because they're so relatively tiny that you need a microscope to see them up close. Science plays a huge part in a beekeeper's training and gaining experience since most people aren't savvy to science and the elements of it which is important and necessary because you have to have some idea of how to manage bees and what to do to keep their habitat healthy and to keep pests from overtaking the hives and killing the bees. There are a lot of steps involving the proper education and training of a beekeeper and what you're looking for is someone who is serious and dedicated to a way of life that's been a tradition in some families for generations.

Many people learn through the ranks of great grandparents, grandparents, and parents and it's just a family tradition and way of life that's taught to children. It wasn't even about making money it was actually just one other chore on the farm, but in the years it slowly progressed into a farm staple that was being sold like it was produce, meat and dairy, but it's still a profitable market anyway you look at it and it's one of the sweetest things in the world.

The Life Cycle of the Honey Bee

A beekeeper, whether a casual hobbyist or a large commercial producer, can not be successful unless they fully understand the life cycle of the honey bee.  As a homesteader and small beekeeper it is even more important to know how your bees are intended to live so you can provide gentle assists to mprove their,, and your lives.

The honey bees life cycle is a unique and fascinating process.  Watching the bees go out and return to the hives, their hind legs covered with a rainboe of different colored pollen, the dance their way into the hive is fascinating.   What we do not see until we open the hive is even more interesting.

It all starts with the egg. The queen bee of your hive lays an egg in one of the cells constructed for the sole purpose of receiving a egg. Once the queen has laid the egg and moved on to lay another (during the spring months the queen can lay an average of 1900 eggs daily) the egg is attached to the cell with a mucus strand.

When the egg hatches a larvae emerges. Nurse bees are in charge of caring for the young larvae. They feed the eggs bee bread. Bee bread is a strange mixture of gland secretions and honey. The larvae will go through five distinct growth stages. After each of these stages the larvae sheds its outer skin. When the larvae is six days old, a worker bee comes along and caps the larvae, caccooning the larvae in its cell. The larvae stays the in the cocoon for for eight to ten days, when it emerges from the cocoon it is a fully formed young bee.

The average length of life average honey bee depends on what purpose the bee fulfills in the hive. A queen bee can live for two years providing that she was able to get herself inseminated with enough sperm during her nuptial flight. A good strong queen bee can lay as many as 2000 eggs a day. She is in charge of killing her sisters and mothers. The queen bee doesn't have to worry about taking care of herself, she is always surrounded by an entourage of worker bees who feed her and remove her waste. It is not uncommon for the elderly queen bee to leave the nest in the springtime when the rest of the hive is getting ready to swarm. Experts believe that the queen produces some sort of pheromone that prevents the hives workers bees from becoming interested in sex. A queen bee who has not made her nuptial flight is called a virgin queen. Drone bees are male bees that live only to impregnate queen bees during the queens nuptial flight.

After mating with a queen the drone dies. During the winter months, a worker bee can live up to one hundred and forty days old. During the summer months the worker bee is lucky to live for forty days, the short summer life span is because the worker bees are literally worked to death. The worker bee's duties are wide and varied. Worker bees called nurse bees are in charge of caring for the young larvae, other workers are sent out to gather pollen to be made into honey. Some workers spend their time capping off honey combs, other workers are responsible for taking care of the queen. Worker bees are in charge of starving the unwanted drone bees and cleaning the hive. There can be any were from twenty thousand to two hundred thousand worker bees in a single hive. Worker bees are always sterile. If a worker bee lays an egg it becomes a drone bee. Workers bees are the bees that people see defending the hive.

The survival of the bee hive depends on the hive having a healthy queen that is laying eggs. If something happens to the queen the hive will die.

In the old days gardeners would put benches by beehives kept in nooks in the garden so the gardener could watch their bees.   I have done the same with a log by Kim and my beehive.   Watching and learning from our insect partners is truly as much of the joy of beekeeping as the honey.

Acquire your bees, starting your hive

Beekeeping: A Practical GuideAcquiring the Bees


As long as you aren't allergic to bee stings beekeeping is a way for someone who doesn't have a great deal of money and acres of land to take an active role in agriculture. The start up expense of the average hive is approximately $300 per hive (you only need one to get begin with). Once you have purchased a hive it can be kept in a remote corner of your back yard, it is not uncommon to see some suburban homes with a bee hive.

If you are considering starting a beehive the first thing you should do is call your local Cooperative Extension office. They will be able to tell you if you live in an area that restricts keeping bees. They will also be able to give you the contact information of your states beekeeping organization where you can become a registered beekeeper. (I say this if you care otherwise go guerrilla and put your bees in a out of the way protected area.)

The next thing you need to do is select a site for your potential honey bee hive.

Once you have selected a site for your beehive you will need to go about acquiring the equipment needed to successfully maintain a beehive. Some of the equipment you will need can be purchased used on EBay. If you are unable to find the equipment you need on EBay there are several on-line sites where you can purchase equipment.

If you need further assistance finding and purchasing a beehive and other beekeeping equipment call your local Cooperative Extension office or the Federation of American Beekeepers.

Before acquiring bees for your hive it's important to make sure that you are properly protected, this means you have to purchase beekeepers gear.

Once your hive is in place and you are confident that everything is in working order it's time to order your honey bees. The easiest way is to order Honey Bees from an established Apiary. You should plan on placing you bee order early in the winter, the average beekeeper orders their bees in January and February. The order is typically shipped in March and April. Most Apiary's ship their bees through the U.S. postal service. When the bees arrive at the post office your mail carrier will call and ask that you pick up the bees. Very few mail carriers are comfortable driving all over the county with a car full of young angry bees in their car and most bees are healthier if they don't have to spend several hours in a hot car.

When you pick up your bees they should have been packaged in a special carrying case that is designed just for bees. This package will be a wooden framed "house" that has a screen covering the outside. This packaging allows air to circulate to the traveling bees and keeps handlers, such as post office employees, from getting stung.

When you get your bees, do not be surprised if you see a few dead bees laying in the bottom of the package. Traveling is hard on bees and they can't all be expected to live through the trip. The rest of the bees should be clutching the sides of the container.

You will notice that one bee in the container has been separated from the rest of the hive.This is your queen bee. The rest of the bees in the container will make up the rest of your bee hives hierarchy. Some Apiaries ship the queen with a couple of nurse bees. The top of the queen's container may be covered with piece of sugar candy. (ours wasn't but we put a marsmallow in the hole, job done.)

You should also see a container that is filled with a sugar solution. This sugar solution is what the bees feed on while they are traveling. Once you get your bees home offer them something to drink. You do this by taking a spray bottle and covering the container with a very fine covering of water.

Kim and I use the spray bottle with a solution of sugar water instead of our smoker to settle the bees when we check the hive as well and so far it has worked as well as a smoker without the negative effects on the bees productivity.