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Author Topic: Making a Living out of bee keeping  (Read 1649 times)

Offline Georgia Boy

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Making a Living out of bee keeping
« 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
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Offline bailey

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Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
« Reply #1 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
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Offline 10framer

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Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
« Reply #2 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.

Offline AllenF

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Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
« Reply #3 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. 

Offline hardwood

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Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
« Reply #4 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
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Offline blanc

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Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
« Reply #5 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.
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Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Making a Living out of bee keeping
« Reply #6 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.
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