One of my recent assignments was to give a presentation at the Short Course on "Bee-ing a Beekeeper" which was about my experiences and the stories of a panel of several others. I focused on the fun(ny) parts of Bee-ing a Beekeeper. I've thought about posting the PowerPoint presentation I did and then thought it wouldn't be the same without the stories to go with the pictures, but I may post it anyway.
In thinking about what I might address if I were asked again to talk about first year experiences, I generated (in no particular order) the questions that were on the top of my mind when I got started. They are:
- How hard is it to put together a hive box?
- What do you use to light a smoker?
- How do you put the bees in the hive and what are the scary parts?
- How do you deal with your neighbors?
- What is it like to be stung the first time?
- How much is the initial investment and do you have to have an extractor?
- Will you have enough wax the first year to make candles?
- What's the purpose of a hive inspection and how hard is it to do one?
- What are the most confusing parts of the first year of beekeeping?
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ReplyDeleteHi Linda. I've been a reader of your blog (from Duluth, Ga) for a couple of months now, and it has been a wonderful source of information as well as a very fun read.
ReplyDeleteI have never had a hive, so I'm trying to get as much information before I jump into it. Your blog has helped. I have a question about keeping bees during the Georgia summers (since you are answering some questions about the first year experience). :)
Are there any precautions you have to take because of the high temperatures and humidity? I always imagine a picture of what happens to my chapstick after I've left it in the car during a hot summer day, and I was wondering if a similar situation can happen to the hive during our summers.
Has our weather caused any problems for your hives during the summer?
Hi Will,
ReplyDeleteThe bees keep the inside of the hive at 92 degrees (approximately) during the summer. In winter they keep the cluster at 92. Sometimes it gets so hot in Hotlanta that they send bees outside to spend the night on the outside of the hive in order to keep the temperature "low" enough inside the hive during hot weather. If you'll search my blog for "bee beard" you'll see pictures of what they do. Inside they are fanning their wings to ventilate and keep the hives at the optimum temperature. I try to help them by keeping screened bottom boards open on my hives, using slatted racks to allow more inside-the-hive ventilation and by propping the top of the hive open with a stick (pretty sophisticated, huh?!?!) Wax melts at approximately 140 degrees, so the hive doesn't allow the inside temperature to get to that, even in Florida or Hotlanta.