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Author Topic: Greetings from Columbus, Ohio  (Read 7926 times)

Anonymous

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« on: May 18, 2005, 01:49:44 pm »
Just found this forum.  I figured there had to be something like this out there somewhere.

Just started beekeeping - it's my third year.  Had a great year last year with four hives.  Actually sold a fair amount of honey, but had to abandon a bunch because it had a rather unpleasant "hot" aftertaste!  :(   Bee Inspector told me that they had probably gotten into Fireweed.  Didn't think I'd seen that much near me, but they must have found a supply.

Looking forward to sharing info real soon!

Offline Miss Chick-a-BEE

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2005, 01:58:36 pm »
Spicy honey? Now wouldn't that be interesting?!

Welcome aboard.... good to have you.

Beth

Anonymous

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2005, 03:51:08 pm »
I thought that it was pretty unique, but after using some of it I decided that I really didn't want to sell it.  It was initially sweet like any other honey, but after swallowing it would give you an unpleasant feeling in the back of your throat, similar to cinnamon.  Have you ever eaten Atomic Fire Balls?  Imagine that feeling when your trying to eat your english muffin with comb honey.  Nope.  It just didn't work.   :(

I thought of using it to make a spicy mead, but never got around to it.

Offline SherryL

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2005, 04:00:24 pm »
Hi John - welcome!

Noticed your post about comb honey.  Which system do you use, or do you cut comb?

I've purchased a few Ross Rounds to try this year.  Just put one super on a few days ago.  I'd be interested in hearing your story on that.

sherry

Offline Horns Pure Honey

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2005, 11:42:24 pm »
Its always great to have new friends aboard. I hope to see you post alot on the forums and more about comb honey, bye :D
Ryan Horn

Anonymous

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2005, 10:46:32 am »
Quote from: SherryL
Hi John - welcome!

Noticed your post about comb honey.  Which system do you use, or do you cut comb?

I've purchased a few Ross Rounds to try this year.  Just put one super on a few days ago.  I'd be interested in hearing your story on that.

sherry


I haven't tried Ross Rounds, but the system seems nice.  Especially for ease of packaging.

I'm frugal (that's a nice way of saying CHEAP  :lol: ) so I've resisted buying a Ross Rounds system.  An elder beekeeper in my area was selling off some old box comb supers, the ones that use the basswood boxes, and I bought two of those.  The price was right at $10.00 a piece and I was intrigued by the old style cardboard box packaging.  The key to getting the bees to fill them was to use the strongest hive and keep them as close to overcrowding as possible, without swarming.  I got lucky my first year and didn't have my strongest hive swarm off.

I also bought a couple shallow supers and fit them with thin foundation for cut comb.  I bought a bunch of the clear plastic boxes that hold just about a pound of cut comb and ended up with about 100 pounds!  Quite the windfall!  Unfortunately, about twenty pounds was the fireweed honey.

I'm definitely hooked on cut comb.  But extracted honey is really nice, too.  It's funny, I never knew how to use cut comb until I started beekeeping.  I think there's a real need for education on that topic.  I'm planning a flyer to accompany any cut comb I sell to help educate my customers.  Anybody have any suggestions for content?

Thanks!!

Offline SherryL

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2005, 10:53:56 pm »
Quote
I'm planning a flyer to accompany any cut comb I sell to help educate my customers. Anybody have any suggestions for content?



I've thought about doing the same sort of thing John.  I've got a whole bunch going on in my life the next couple of weeks (I'm in Boston as I'm writing this for oldest sons graduation), once I get thru the next few weeks, I'll have time to sit down give it more thought.  Generally speaking, I think a little history on bees/honey, how to use, ect.

I'll be checking on the Ross super in about a week.  I'm hoping the apple trees will be blooming up there by then and the bees will have made good progress on the super.  I don't have a handle yet on how long it's going to take the girls to fill out these foundations.

I don't own an extractor, and don't have access to one, so the cost of the Ross Rounds, even at approx. $30/box, is less than buying an extractor.  I only have 2 hives going at this point.  I'd like to get the numbers up over then next couple of years, but still don't think I have enough hives to warrant the investment of an extractor.  I'm anxious to see how the comb production goes this year.

sherry

Anonymous

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2005, 03:56:01 pm »
Comb honey really was a good deal for me as a beginner.  Cut comb in clear plastic boxes is really an attractive item for buyers, and there was enough honey left over from cutting/odd pieces that I was able to strain it and fill about a dozen 12 oz honey bears!

I don't have an extractor yet either.  But it's on the shopping list.  I'm hoping to join forces with some other local folks and maybe buy a nice one, but I'm not sure yet.  Saw one at an estate auction last year, but it went for premium dollar.

That 100 pounds of comb honey I got last year came mostly from two hives!  I was amazed how fast they drew it out and filled/capped it.  I'll try to remember to check my journal tonight and see how long it took them to fill a shallow comb super.  I'd say if your two hives are strong, be ready!   :D

Offline SherryL

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2005, 11:15:39 pm »
John,  did you sell all of your 'good' honey?  If so, what sources did you use, farmers market. word-of-mouth, local retailers?  

I checked with a local health food store up where my bees are, asked her if I got enough to sell this summer would she be interested.  She commented that she could "only buy from state certified hives" because she was a retailer.  (of course, she didn't ask me if mine were certified or not! )  At any rate, she didn't seem interested.  I have a B&B as a neighbor up there, they've already asked if I would have some for them to set out to sell.  Will probably set a sign out by my barn too.  I have a friend that works a farmers market - so that's another option.  Of course, now I'm counting my honey combs before they're capped!  :wink:

Anonymous

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2005, 09:44:22 am »
Quote from: SherryL
Of course, now I'm counting my honey combs before they're capped!  :wink:


 :lol:

Since this is only my third year, I was hoping to see some more consistent results before I go making any promises to folks.  All my comb honey was sold to people where I work and where my wife works.  Some options I'm considering are the local farmer's market, a sign and honor system at the house, and some of the specialty restaurants in town.

Stay in touch!

Offline Daddy-T

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2005, 09:07:30 am »
Hi all,
        We are in eastern Ohio, Mahoning County. We bought a place in the woods about 2 years ago and it has grown into about more then I can handle :? . We started keeping Bees last year to pollinate our 2 acres of melons and squash. We are still learning. We have some 40 chickens, and this year we went from 2 hives of Buckfest to 12 hives. We have added 10 hives of NWC to our bee yard. We love it !!!!  I have been reading all of the posts for some time now and wanted to start getting in on some of the topics. We just bought a Walter Kelly 33 frame extractor from a friend down south and we are planning out first harvest the weekend after the 4th of July. We are making it a picnic and harvest event for the whole family….LOL We have about 8 full Capped honey supers to get emptied.  My wife “Lorah” and children “Rochelle 14, Benjamin 13, Amy 9” are all helping to make this happen. The kids and I keep a journal to track what we are doing and so we can look back at what we have done.

   I just wanted to say to Michael, Beth, Robo, Sherryl, Ryan and all the rest Thank-you so much for all the Great info!!!!! Us newbee’s can use all the help we can get.

 :lol:
Tim
Pass it on to the kids

Offline beandoggle66

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2005, 04:11:28 pm »
Hey John G. I am located in Zanesville Ohio. Are there any beekkeeping groups in the Columbus area that meet and talk about bees. I am new to this and being a newbie am trying to find groupd to chat with and attend meetings. I would love to stay in touch with you if you want to. Thanks for posting. Dan.

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2005, 09:24:36 pm »
Hi John G:

I', a bit slow on welcoming people to the forum, but I did want to say welcome aboard and hope you enjoy the forum and its terrific and diverse membership.

Side Note: My Father was always called either Mr. C. or John G. - he was named after the silent movie star John Gilbert but NEVER liked the name Gilber, so the G. was used.

He was a prominent man locally, had natural administrative quality eventhough his educational level would not meet what most people considar today as a prerequist to accomplishment.

Anyway... Welcome to the forum, we are in another wonderful growth spurt in this form which is JUST barely 16 months old.

Have a great time here and please come by often, we enjoy active membership and everyone here enjoys making new friends.
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Anonymous

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2005, 02:59:35 pm »
Quote from: beemaster
Hi John G:

I', a bit slow on welcoming people to the forum, but I did want to say welcome aboard and hope you enjoy the forum and its terrific and diverse membership.

Side Note: My Father was always called either Mr. C. or John G. - he was named after the silent movie star John Gilbert but NEVER liked the name Gilber, so the G. was used.


My dad always called my mom "Mrs. G".   :lol:   Funny how pet names and such come about.  I have several myself, but most are unprintable in this forum.   :shock:  :lol:

Anonymous

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2005, 03:02:29 pm »
Quote from: beandoggle66
Hey John G. I am located in Zanesville Ohio. Are there any beekkeeping groups in the Columbus area that meet and talk about bees. I am new to this and being a newbie am trying to find groupd to chat with and attend meetings. I would love to stay in touch with you if you want to. Thanks for posting. Dan.


Welcome, Beandoggle!  Actually, there is a local group that I belong to.  It's COBA, Central Ohio Beekeepers Association.  We have a web site at http://www.centralohiobeekeepers.com/.

Offline Beandoggle

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #15 on: June 28, 2005, 06:45:29 pm »
Hi John,

It is great to hear there is a group around the Columbus area that meets. Do you have regular meetings or just a few times a year? I am glad to hear about the beekeeping class. I may join in. If you would like to email me please do as I am trying to make new friends and learn more about beekeeping since I am a newbie. Dan
Beandoggle

Offline Joseph Clemens

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Beekeeping in Ohio
« Reply #16 on: June 28, 2005, 08:01:16 pm »
Welcome to the fascination of keeping honeybees.

Back when I was a teenager I kept 4 colonies on my cousin's farm in Key, Ohio.

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Offline budhanes

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Greetings from Columbus, Ohio
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2005, 09:07:10 am »
John;
 I live in Westerville, and this spring I will be putting out my first hive. Any chance I could get a chance to talk with you or observe your hives with you to learn "the ropes".  I'll also be PM'ing this message in case you dont check this forum topic often... Thanks!!!