Bees

Since arriving at the acreage, ive been mulling over the idea of getting one of those too. As the article says, plurists are rolling their eyes at the concept. I see it more that I already ha e tons of bees on my properties, it makes my plants happy, and I may as well offer them a place to stay and get some honey out of it. I don't have time to go all out in bee keeping so this seems like a compromise. I don't intend on making a business out of honey-making, but if I can get a few jars a year, that seems like an interesting thing to get into.

That's what I am thinking too, just enough for my own consumption, not interested in selling.

Hey all! We put a couple hives here in our garden. We mulled over the idea of the flows. We had heard from some bee keepers that it was an OK idea-I didn't know why they were so apprehensive. Apparently they're shy of them because if you take too much honey without knowing how much you leave behind-the bees starve to death during the winter. We decided to learn the old fashion way first but we put a order in for the flow. We're still learning how to manage the hives properly and it's been two years with the hives. There is ALOT to learn but I love them!!!

Hey guys . You can not learn how to hunt just reading about it, you have to go to the bush walk observe and learn. same with bees .Buy a hive go on internet, library and learn while observing the bees. Go to "BEEKEEPING" on internet ,there are thousands of questions and answers for beginners.
Henry

Hi all,
although I have decided for a few reasons not to keep bees, I was really interested in it for the past year or so.
That is one of the reasons I just HAD to go to the Eastern Ontario meet this past summer.
Oddmot, who keeps bees, gave a great presentation and I was grateful to have learned a few things from someone with experience.
The topic of the flowhive came up, and from what I gathered from his point of view, and the views of other keepers that he knew, was less than positive.
From the discussion we had, I would not consider it for a variety of reasons.
If you post in this thread...
http://internationalpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7071&p=68832&hilit=bees#p68832
I'm sure he would be more than happy to post his opinions.
The next best thing to hands on learning is talking with someone with experience.

Peppercorn,

Please find attached a review of the "Flow Hive" by an active Bee Farmer. http://patrick.freivald.com/2015/04/26/my-thoughts-on-the-flow-hive/
Coincidentally, I stumbled across this review just last week so recognized the Flow Hive brand name when I read your post. Crazy where the "rabbit hole" will take us.
Please read this before you spend any money.

Antsy

WOW, does that guy ever slam it. I will be investigating it more before I decide.

I bought my bees 4 years ago . First year I let them swarm second one swarm and took enough honey for my family , this year I sold 80 lbs of honey and kept app.100 lbs for my whole family. (6 hives) Still left enough for the bees for winter.
I make my own hives and frames, buy only foundations.
What is wrong with that?
Henry

So you had nearly 200 pounds of honey from 6 hives! 200 pounds sounds like a lot of honey. I like the idea of building things myself...I think pictures are required...I would like to see what you built! I am sure others would too...

Good hive in one season can easily produce 50 lbs of honey. This year was outstanding, by mid summer all double shallow supper were full.
As for making your haves and frames is the simplest project you can do. All you need is cheap table saw and small band saw. (one right and one left hand).
Download from internet plans HOW TO MAKE BEE HIVE and go for it.
Just trying to help, that is the only reason I got involved.
Henry