Jane, cool, another Canadian, I see that Peter, who is in Saskatchewan has already greeted you (and beat me to it, hee hee, :-P to you Peter, hee, hee).
Kidding aside Jane. So nice that you have come from a family of beekeepers, what took YOU so long, hee, hee?
So nice that you are now feeling that you would like to keep bees. And 5 children, holy smokers, that is a handful, hope they are not all under the age of 10, hee, hee, that would be a really big, big handful for sure. And a pot bellied pig, yesiree, a handful, I love those breed of pig, very cool.
Central Alberta, why don't you update your profile so we know better what part of the central part. I am in southwestern B.C. 45 km northeast of Vancouver, in a place called Maple Ridge. My Daughter's inlaws live in Edmonton and her and her Husband and two boys lived near Stoney Plain for a couple of years. Small world now isn't it?
Enjoy your stay with us, you will find we can listen, help, offer advice, and getting back to the listening, we love to hear stories and the experiences of others on this forum. Be it bees, gardening, anything, this forum is a wonderful and great place to spend awesome time, you will make some very valuable friends here too, I know that I surely have. So, dear girl, have a wonderful and beautiful day, love our great life we live. Cindi