hillsdown":342p1int said:
Rockridge,
I think that this may be catching on and is a really good idea. I know that you make candles and such that you sell, but was wondering if you can elaborate on how you got started and where to go to get stared and also do you harvest the honey yourselves or hire someone.
Thanks.
There is lots to say.
First get two books
Beekeeping in western canada. Designed for our area. Your local ag office will be able to help where to get it. Or your local beemaid store. There is one in Alberta.
Or Alberta Beekeepers Association, they have a web site as does beemaid
Canadian Honey Council
2nd book, this has been recommended to me and I have yet to buy it "Beekeeping for dummies"...yes there is a book out there called that.
Next to start, start with 2 or 3 hives.
This will be your learning curve, if you mess up, not so much bucks, if you decide to sell, easy to do, and if you like it start to expand.
Extraction equipment
You can make an uncapping table cheap enough, I can post a pic.
Extractor, make sure stainless steel. No lead solder.
Next talk to the ag office to get in touch with the head beekeeper in Alberta. if you can't find him or her, I will give you the name of the guy here and he can put you intouch with his Alberta counterpart.
If you buy used equipment be it hives or extraction, ask to see their inspection test sheets. If they will not provide call the said mentioned guy and he will tell you of the sellerd apiary health. All beekeepers are inpected at least once a year, 2x if there are problems, and it is on file.
Stay away from American foul brood infected hives...more on that later
We harvest our own honey, do the work ourselves. But if you have a big beekeeper or a beekeeper in your area, he might allow you to harvest at his place. Minimize your expense the first year, to see if you like bees.
One thing you will notice is your garden just got a whole lot better.
We have a mentor in Manitoba and he has been in bees his whole life. He had about 800 hives, his one son has about 1100 and the other about 1100 hives.
So I guess what i am trying to say is once you talk to your ag bee guy, ask for the name of a few good beekeepers to mentor you, answer your questions etc.
Once you get started its amazing.
When I had two hives I sold all local. Average is 150#/hive. Depending on the crops in your area, alfalfa clover is best, but they do well on canola, sun flower, wild flower, any flower. Each flower has it's own taste.
With 32 hives, I got about 50# maybe more of wax. This (2007) I bought 300# of wax for some big sales i have coming up and the past Christmas sales I had.
Safety gear.
Go with the one piece bee suit and helmet. Lesson learned here. Gloves get two pairs of the bee gloves. They have elastic on the cuff that goes near to the elbow. Hive tool/scraper, bee smoker, about all you need for working with the hives while outside.
There are quiet a few bee auctions in Alberta this year. Check out Frazer Auctions on line
Couple of good bee supply web sites that can give you an idea of price of equipment
Mann lake
Bee maid
Check out the bee forum
Beesource, like cattle today but with bees.
Like cows there are diseases to watch for and treat. Pests to monitor and treat. I figured it cost about 50# full honey super to cover the cost of yearly working with the bees. Feeding sugar water, treating, monitoring for pests.
The rest pays for your hives the first year
Our average per hive
year one 150#'s per hive
year two 300#'s per hive...exceptional and a bit costly the next year with tired queens
year three 175#'s per hive.
What kind of crops are in your area?
There is so much to say, and i have only touched the tip here. Feel free to ask me or maybe there is another beek on the forum who can answer.
We live in an alfalfa clover rich area. Plus we have several leaf cutter operations close by. So here we have plenty of forage.
So much to say. Sorry it sounds all over the place.
