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Poll

How many years you been beekeeping?

1-2 years
15 (38.5%)
3-4 years
10 (25.6%)
5-10 years
3 (7.7%)
11-20 years
2 (5.1%)
21-30 years
4 (10.3%)
31-40 years
3 (7.7%)
41 +
2 (5.1%)

Total Members Voted: 0

Author Topic: How many years Beekeeping  (Read 4736 times)

Offline TwT

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How many years Beekeeping
« on: April 14, 2006, 02:00:02 pm »
Just wondering how many years everyone has been in the beekeeping business???? Oh and post your years if you don't mind so we know who is who...... I am just starting my second year... Rookie but still learning...

 for my first year things I have learned to do ..

make package bee's
catch swarms
do building and home bee removals
make foundation
make wax cell cups for queens
made all my equipment (cell bars, nuc's, supers, brood chambers, BB's, SBB's, slatted racks, hivetop feeders, etc.)
make queen cell starter hives
make queen cell finishing hives
walk away slits
grafting

that's some of the things I have learned.... not bragging , just gloating  :wink:
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the ark,
Professionals built the Titanic

Offline thegolfpsycho

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2006, 02:44:29 pm »
I've had bees on and off since I was around 10.  That was over 40 years ago, but I had a few breaks along the way, so I checked the 20-30 year range.  I bought my first car with "honey money"  My uncle was a commercial queen producer and helped me get started.

I enjoy the bees, and making honey, so I always have to fight to keep things in check.  I split my colonys last year, started 10 packages, and assembled the equipment for another 10-12 splits this winter.  Looks like I'm on the ropes!!

Offline TwT

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2006, 04:55:30 pm »
who is the 41+ member?????????
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the ark,
Professionals built the Titanic

Offline amymcg

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2006, 06:31:26 pm »
I'm starting my 2nd year.

Offline Jerrymac

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2006, 08:20:31 pm »
Quote from: amymcg
I'm starting my 2nd year.


Ditto
:rainbowflower:  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.   :rainbowflower:

 :jerry:

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Offline Understudy

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2006, 08:41:45 pm »
Hmmm
Poll option not avaliable
> 1 year
So far I have learned that , the queen is vital to the hive.
Powdered sugar works to help control mites.
Bees need enough room to grow or they will swarm.
A deep with 10 frames full of honey is really really heavy.
Move hive boxes at night.
Put branches in front of the hive to force reorientation.
The time it takes for a queen cell to go to egg laying queen can be so long that a weak hive will not survive.
Use mediums not deeps.
Drones can be freaking huge.
Smokers can be tricky to first deal with and to get to stay lite for long periods of time.
Use sphagnum moss for smokers.
Small Hive Beetles are nasty rotten critters.
Cardboard can be used to catch SHBs
My sister is "pretending" to be allergic to bees in order to prevent me from putting hives on her farm.
And most important of all, if I make it through year one and get any honey at all it will be an amazing thing.
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible

manowar422

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2006, 10:25:32 pm »
Starting my second season also

Online Michael Bush

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2006, 10:37:03 pm »
I started studying bees in 1972.  I started keeping them in 1974.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline ian michael davison

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2006, 03:18:30 am »
Hi all
I started when I was ten years old and my mum started keeping them. By the age of 12 I had grafted my own cells sold a few nucs and passed my British beekeepers association adults prelim exam. It's been down hill ever since :lol:

Women and alcohol took a few years out in my 20's. Oh yes and those Finish girls know how to keep a man warm at night :wink: What CAN YOU TELL US FINSKY.

So top end of the 11-20 range.

Michael: I was born in 72 :lol:


Regards Ian

Offline Virginia Beekeeper

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2006, 11:06:45 pm »
Hello everyone,
   I started beekeeping in 1962 at the age of 14, I have continued to keep bees and today is the beginning of my 45th year. The first money that I made from the sell of a wonderful Sourwood crop was in 1963. That money was spent on a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico $165.00 with $20.00 left over for spending money. Both of these things were life changing experences for me. I retired 10 years ago very well off and my success started with beekeeping. I have never been a commerical beekeeper but the experence I gained as a young boy guided me until present day. I still keep my bees and have come full circle in my life,I started, it with bees and I intend to go out with them.  Bill

Offline Joseph Clemens

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2006, 12:43:48 am »
My signature says it. I too have never been commercial. Most of the time I hadn't even managed them for honey production. I primarily keep bees for the enjoyment of observing their many fascinating behaviors.

<img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/AZ/Marana.gif" border=0
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Joseph Clemens
Beekeeping since 1964
10+ years in Tucson, Arizona
12+ hives and 15+ nucs
No chemicals -- no treatments of any kind, EVER.

Offline mellifera

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2006, 04:30:20 am »
Hello All-

I am starting my third year and in the spirit of TwT's first post, here's what I've done..

year one:
installed package bees
got stung a little bit
successfully overwintered my first hive.

year two:
captured my first swarm
lost my second swarm
tried to split my hive unsuccessfully
lost a queen
got stung a bit more
harvested honey
entered honey in local fair, didn't place
sold honey
missed my window for fall treatments
was late putting up mouse guards
had mouse damage
thought that I lost one hive
thought that I had wax moths
both hives have (knock on wood) successfully overwintered

year three:

will be ready early to anticipate swarming
will be ready early with drawn comb and new foundation
will be ready with fall treatments
will be sooo ready with mouse guards
(will keep better records)

Looking forward to year #3

Melissa

Online Michael Bush

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2006, 07:39:01 am »
>will be ready early to anticipate swarming

I'm afraid of swarming here in the North right now.  If I hadn't been doing my taxes I would have opened all the brood nests up Saturday or Sunday.

It must be prime swarm season in California.  Maybe eve in Norther California.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline Beehappy

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how many years beekeeping
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2006, 09:32:57 am »
I'm starting my third year. This started as a cooperative effort with my son. He has since lost interest, I think getting stung on the head took the wind out of his sails. I must confess to being somewhat of a negligent beekeeper so far. I have harvested honey twice and really enjoy that part.

Offline mat

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2006, 06:54:35 pm »
I kept bees from 86 to 92 before I came to America. It was my dream to be able to be back to beekeeping, and it came through. And after 12 years it finaly came through. But so much has changed that I considere myself newbee. It is my second season here.
mat

Offline Summerbee

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How many years Beekeeping
« Reply #15 on: April 19, 2006, 10:07:45 am »
too bad there isn't a category for under one year... :lol:
People will accept your ideas much more readily if you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first.
- David H. Comins

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Offline JP

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how many years beekeeping
« Reply #16 on: April 20, 2006, 12:46:12 am »
2nd year beekeeping, 16 yrs in pest control field, have turned over rocks looking for bugs since in diapers 41 yrs ago. Learning that there is never ending learning when it comes to beekeeping.
My Youtube page is titled JPthebeeman with hundreds of educational & entertaining videos.

My website JPthebeeman.com http://jpthebeeman.com

 

anything