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02-02-2017, 10:31 PM | #16 |
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2010
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Ive bought a top bar hive and plan on buying bees this spring to try it out. Ive got a pretty good size garden, Ive built a large chicken coop and have chickens going on 3 years now and I figure it's time to start a new self sustaining project.
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Posts: 2,172
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02-02-2017, 10:33 PM | #17 |
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Join Date: Aug 2000
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I certainly wish everybody who does this the best of luck. I keep hearing stories about how bees are dying off everywhere, and that's bad news for everything else.
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Posts: 120,029
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02-02-2017, 10:51 PM | #18 |
Supporter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Utopia
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The guys I'm learning from have had mixed results. One of them lost 4-5 hives at his house this winter but the rest are good in other locations. I think he is blaming the adjacent farm spraying insecticide late in the season.
I'm not a notable hippy but I do believe the bee death is a real thing. Pollinators are vital and if more guys like me try to raise a few hives it will help. It surely won't hurt my orchard either. |
Posts: 62,105
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02-02-2017, 10:52 PM | #19 |
Seeking the Truth daily
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the Country in MO
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I thought if you feed them sugar water the honey will get all crystalized and nasty. Fact or fiction?
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Posts: 53,866
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02-02-2017, 10:55 PM | #20 | |
New and Improved
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Springfield, Mo.
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Quote:
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Posts: 21,954
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02-02-2017, 10:59 PM | #21 |
Sexiest Athlete
Join Date: Apr 2001
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I'd be real interested in learning more about beekeeping. We have some pasture land; I've thought about putting some hives out there. I know we'd have to fence them off real good to keep the cattle out. Just curious if there is any money in it to make it worthwhile.
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Posts: 12,685
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02-02-2017, 11:14 PM | #22 | |
Supporter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Scott City KS
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Quote:
But the whole talc/seed treatment thing is a joke. Vacuum planters have been on the market forever as has seed treatment. In terms of applied insecticides, the total volume of insecticides applied is minuscule since BT corn was commercially available. But I'd talk to your neighbors. See if you can get a courtesy call when he is flying insecticide on. |
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Posts: 57,834
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02-03-2017, 08:51 AM | #23 |
Gargling the sweet EZ nectar
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Along the Interurban
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Posts: 8,111
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02-03-2017, 09:45 AM | #24 |
Cool as a Cucumber
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: on the edge
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Honey gets crystallized due to temperature change for the most part. Setting the honey jar in a pan of very hot water will bring it back to a liquid, you don't want to overheat the honey as that kills a lot of the good properties that folks buy local honey for. A drawback, IMO, in using sugar water is you lose the allergy-releiving properties of local honey if they aren't pollinating the flowers/weeds that are causing the allergies.
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Posts: 3,823
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03-02-2017, 08:25 PM | #25 |
Supporter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Utopia
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No turning back now.
Last night I bought 3 hives and a few extra boxes from someone who didn't want to do this anymore, along with a bonafide bee hat, gloves, smoker and tools for less than half of retail...got a good deal. For year one I play to buy 2 nucs and keep the 3rd and try to catch a swarm. Probably a good time to invest in epi-pen stocks. Last edited by Iowanian; 09-05-2017 at 10:42 AM.. |
Posts: 62,105
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03-02-2017, 09:50 PM | #26 | |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2015
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Quote:
good luck. my hive died when i bought one without a queen. |
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Posts: 2,502
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03-02-2017, 10:02 PM | #27 |
Seeking the Truth daily
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the Country in MO
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I just finished planting a 2 acre pollinator planting on the farm. I figure I have the space and the bees and butterflies can benefit. We are converting another 11 acres from fescue to Native Warm Season Grasses for the wildlife benefits.
Guess deep down all of we farm types are pretty green... |
Posts: 53,866
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03-02-2017, 10:23 PM | #28 |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2015
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[QUOTE=HonestChieffan;12766022]I just finished planting a 2 acre pollinator planting on the farm. I figure I have the space and the bees and butterflies can benefit. We are converting another 11 acres from fescue to Native Warm Season Grasses for the wildlife benefits.
Guess deep down all of we farm types are pretty green...[/QUOTE looks good on paper. get paid and never make anything. that is your pretty green. |
Posts: 2,502
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03-02-2017, 11:02 PM | #29 |
Bono & Grbac wasn't enough
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sioux City, IA
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Looks good Iowa - love what you're doing up there
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Posts: 36,976
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03-03-2017, 12:27 AM | #30 | |
Supporter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Scott City KS
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