Saving a Few Bees

Hi, Peter;
I didn't understand until recently how good mason bees are as pollinators - better than the honey bee by far, and they rarely sting! Even if their good pollination is because they are kind of clumsy, the plants don't care I'm sure - as long as the work gets done. Kudos to you for thinking of a way to help them to save themselves.

Sue

Our city of Kamloops has made using pesticides and the like illegal inside city limits.
Isn't that something?
Since then, I have noticed a marked improvement on the bee population this year, with a variety as well!
Bumble bees, Honey bees, Mason bees, and I even have seen a couple of black bees.
I don't know this variety, however.

Good thinking, saving as many bees as possible...
there has been growing concern about vanishing bee populations in Europe as well as North America these last years,
now it seems that your normal "modern bee" is rather overwrought like some racing horse or turbo-hen,
that being the reason for minimal resistance towards parasites and poison.

Mason bees however are known to be a good "Ersatz", they don´t hibernate as long as bees - early risers - and aren´t as fickle...
at least that is what I read, and we really do need more insects in the area - so I am thinking about buying some -
not talking ticks and mosquitos of course (which are there in abundance as soon as it gets warm in May).

Bees have been there most of the summer. They were waiting for the tenant to move out to open the wall. Want to get it cleaned out and put back together to re-rent. I was thinking trying a 5 frame nuc in the garage or stacking on top of a double screen over a strong hive.
The deep root connection honey bees have in the world of plant life is something we often take for granted, yet here in Vermont it has become very rare to see a wild colony of them anymore even where they where once common , it does not take a rocket scientist to say we have quite an issue at hand and very few people realy "see" the extremely important role the tiny insects play in the root of the natural world and the issues the bees face in the field today with climate change and toxic "cides". And issues like bee mites plus the threat of Africanized honey bees which domnate and and push out the mild minored European bees and take over the colony.

I would love to keep bees. I often see adds for the box they live in, is used a good idea ?.

I would love to keep bees. I often see adds for the box they live in, is used a good idea ?.

a used hive is fine...however, you can pick up new 'Langstroth' hives for just over $120... a queen will cost you $20 - $50 and if you don't collect the beeswax a hive will give you about 90lb of honey (the bees have to rebuild the wax comb before they can continue to produce honey)

I would love to keep bees. I often see adds for the box they live in, is used a good idea ?.

a used hive is fine...however, you can pick up new 'Langstroth' hives for just over $120... a queen will cost you $20 - $50 and if you don't collect the beeswax a hive will give you about 90lb of honey (the bees have to rebuild the wax comb before they can continue to produce honey)

just to add slightly to that...if you have enough space get two...put them as far apart as possible, then if you loose a colony, you'll be able to restock yourself....and do not move after siteing 🙂

I saw a report and a plea to make some Bee rest stations. The Bees will come back to your property more often if they have the rest station to use. You can youtube it, I like the idea, we will not have the time to try to get a Bee colony yet, so a rest station seems like a nice thing to do.

WildernessReturn how far apart is far. Are we talking miles or meters. ?
I saw a TV show were they use old faction basket hives for the bees. I'm wondering if i could do that myself , find some cheep baskets put some food out for them and see what happens.

WildernessReturn how far apart is far. Are we talking miles or meters. ?
I saw a TV show were they use old faction basket hives for the bees. I'm wondering if i could do that myself , find some cheep baskets put some food out for them and see what happens.

20 - 30 meters should work well to avoid cross contam....and a basket hive is great in principle, but harder work than a traditional... 2c

Saving the bees and saving the bats. Our friends. I bought a cute Mason Bee condo from I believe it was Vesey's. I'm going to cut up bamboo garden sticks next year and put into wooden cubes and hang them. I'm also making some bat houses and hope they come back again. Did you hear about all the little dying and dead bats from that snout fungus or something they got? We get a lot from the bees. I'm going to have to look up bee rest stops....... nice idea, thanks.

We are going to be keeping bees on our acreage, we came across great book from a local man called : Harmonic Farming Bees by Werner M. Gysi. He very approachable in the sense that even in his book he offers his email to questions. It was 25 bucks but he also does all his own publishing to try to get the word out.

how the hell did you get a permit? im still waiting.

how the hell did you get a permit? im still waiting.

You probably "leered" at the official rather than smiling like everyone else does! 🙄