Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Georgia Boy on February 27, 2013, 06:37:55 pm

Title: Making a Living out of bee keeping
Post by: Georgia Boy on February 27, 2013, 06:37:55 pm

Hey guys,

Need input please.  Can you make a living out of just the honey???  Or do you really need other avenues in bee keeping to make a living?

Thanks

David

Title: Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
Post by: bailey on February 27, 2013, 06:39:43 pm

Not easily done. 
It's nice extra money but hard to make it as a full time.
Bailey

Title: Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
Post by: 10framer on February 27, 2013, 07:53:24 pm

you would need a lot of money up front for equipment.  not just bee equipment either.  buildings, trucks etc.
pm me.  my first job was for a big commercial outfit.

Title: Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
Post by: AllenF on February 27, 2013, 07:58:47 pm

I do not know of many in Georgia that make it just on honey.   Most make it on selling bees.   Honey is just a byproduct.  You will find out that we have dry honey years every once in a while in north Georgia. 

Title: Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
Post by: hardwood on February 27, 2013, 08:05:55 pm

You need to talk to REDBEE (Bruce) who relied on both pollination and honey with his 3000 hives. I believe he said he had to produce 150 barrels just to break even.

Scott

Title: Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
Post by: blanc on February 28, 2013, 09:04:00 am

I am not sure about folks in your areas but I know here there has been a turn to more healthy eating and folks who never used honey are buying it these days. Thought about having to sell the honey at a discount at local stores but could take a while to sell reserves if you had a large amount so I have to agree with most of you that just on honey alone could be challanging.
Blanc

Title: Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
Post by: Michael Bush on February 28, 2013, 10:55:35 am

> Can you make a living out of just the honey???  Or do you really need other avenues in bee keeping to make a living?

MAYBE if you sold all your honey yourself direct to the consumer and you got premium prices for either varietals or treatment free or some other niche.  But I think it is wiser to diversify your income and selling a large amount of honey is difficult and selling it wholesale is sometimes a losing proposition.