Howdy!!!!
Brand new to the forum so still stumbling around. Brand new to bee keeping that began when I received a frantic call from a neighbor this last May asking if I still wanted bees. That there was a swarm in their bushes. Not having a clue what I was doing, I managed to capture it and get them settled into one of the hives I had purchased several years before my spouse passed away.
A bit about myself, I am widowed 3 years now. The late hubby had worked bees as a teen in the mid '50s, before I was even born. He always said he wanted to show me how, but as far as we ever got was to purchase the equipment - medium 8 frame hives and beginners kit. I had to replace the "kit" this spring after a house fire destroyed most everything. The hives were in a different building thankfully.
I run (or try to) a cattle ranch as my profession. Have about a 60-70 cow herd running on 600 acres along with far too many horses. There are a few goats, poultry and my rather large pack of mutts ...and a few cats.
Always a bit of a homesteader at heart and an avid gardener, bees were something I have wanted to try despite being terrified as a child of stinging insects.
So I am essentially learning by reading profusely and "on the job training". A couple weeks ago a different neighbor contacted me with a small swarm in his yard. Successfully managed to get that one home as well and it is trying to build in the second hive. I am sure I will have many questions concerning getting that one through the winter.
My biggest recent thrill was I finally saw the queen of the bigger hive. They sure can move fast!!!
So I hope you all can put up with me and many stupid questions. I now will buckle down and start reading. One member here already cleared up some of my confusion as to bee behavior via their blog before I started to panic that there was something really wrong. This IS farming country and spraying is common.
MsCarol in presently soggy southern middle TN
Topic: New Beek from Southern Middle TN (Read 2561 times)