Clegs:
You're required to register any number of hives with the Washington State Department of Agriculture. It's the law. $5 will cover you for 1 year and up to 5 hives.
This is from the WSDA:
Each person owning one or more hives with bees, brokers renting hives, and apiarists resident in other states who operate hives in Washington
shall register with the Department of Agriculture on or before April 1st of each year. The registration form is to include the person's name, address, and
phone number, the number of colonies of bees owned, brokered, or operated in Washington, and the appropriate registration fee. (RCW 15.60.021)
The registration form is located here:
http://agr.wa.gov/PlantsInsects/docs/ApiaryRegistrationForm.pdfYou can contact our state inspector Christina Rappin at crappin@agr.wa.gov or (360) 902-2070.
It's pretty painless. I registered mine after April 1st since I didnt establish my first hive until the 16th and didnt have to pay the extra fees. They're pretty easy to work with. Just send a check with the registration form and you'll get a confirmation in the mail with your registration number on it.
Yeah the folks at Trees N' Bees are really nice and have a cool set up for Christmas. I found out about them when we bought our Christmas tree last year. They're a little steep in price but it's really convinent having them so close when you're in a bind. I bought my 3# package from them this year and was very happy. They also hold beekeeping classes a few times a year which I hear is pretty cool. I keep missing them cause of my work schedule.
Cindi:
You like that sign?!?! Get's the point across. lol I actually bought it from Brushy Mountain for like $10. Most signs I've seen were pretty lame like "Busy bees at work... beee careful!" with a pic of some dumb looking cartoon bee on it. This one really caught my eye. Puts the fear of God in ya. lol
I'm not required to post signs here either, but I wanted one just in case some drunken hillbilly comes out of the woods and thinks it would be cool to knock over my hive. Here in Washington if someone tresspasses and gets hurt because of something dangerous on your yard, they could sue you. I've heard stories of people getting sued cause a burgler broke into their house and broke a bone after tripping on a piece of cardboard. But if they posted a sign sayin, "Danger, cardboard" then the suit would have failed. Instead they had to pay for the burgler's medical bill. The last thing I need is some kid getting stung and his folks trying to sue me saying "we didn't know it was there". :evil:
Sean Kelly