Just Starting Out in Giles County, VA

[TnJBees]

Hi Everyone -

My husband and I have contemplated bee keeping for a few years now.  We have a small farm that's mainly been used for raising sheep, chickens, occasionally a cow or two, and this year we raised 3 hogs!  We've always put out a vegetable garden in the Spring and over the past few years we've noticed a significant decrease in honey bees.  There was a time that our corn stalks would be humming with all the bee activity, but those days are long past.  As a result of our absent bees, we've notice our garden production greatly reduced as well.  We're strong advocates for organic gardening and the next step for us is to help with the honey bee population in our area as well.

We are both signed up for our first beekeeping class on Feb 7 with our local Beekeeper's Association and are looking forward to learning as much as we can so that our endeavors will be successful!

Teanessa n Joe (TnJBees) 

[GSF]

Welcome. You're on a good active forum, lots of experienced folks here who are willing to share. Looking at the corn stalks was the same way I came to the conclusion we didn't have any feral bees around here. Years ago they were wrapped up, then there was none. Now that I have bees they're wrapped up again.

[BeeMaster2]

Welcome to Beemaster. Lots of good info and a lot of great videos. Check out the old posts in honey bee removal.
Jim

[Michael Bush]

>We're strong advocates for organic gardening...

Then you probably won't enjoy all the preaching about treatments at your bee class.  You may want to supplement your research with some "organic" beekeeping practices:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

[biggraham610]

Welcome and enjoy the addiction. G