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If you like this story, I'd unabashedly recommend that you try and keep bees. They are relatively low maintenance, interesting to observe and fun to debug (no p

by Qworg 12y ago

If you like this story, I'd unabashedly recommend that you try and keep bees. They are relatively low maintenance, interesting to observe and fun to debug (no pun intended). Success is amazing - both to eat and think about. The other benefit is psychological - beekeeping requires an almost zen like approach when dealing with the hive. You cannot get angry or flustered, even when surrounded by thousands of bees desperately trying to sting you. You have to focus, be calm, and do the work.

ensignavenger 12y ago
I've been wanting to get some beehives for a while. I am a bit concerned because when I was younger I used to have a minor allergy to bee stings. From what I understand, if I'm careful, I shouldn't have any problem. Anyway- do you have any websites or other sources you would recommend to someone just getting started?
- sten 12y ago
  You will eventually, no matter how careful you are, get a sting. Everyone does eventually when keeping bees. I'd get a checkup with a doctor to see how bad the reaction is. It'd be a good idea to keep an epipen around not just for yourself but also in case a visitor is allergic as well.
- durkie 12y ago
  I started with First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane: http://www.amazon.com/First-Lessons-Beekeeping-Keith-Delaplane/dp/0915698129 http://www.amazon.com/First-Lessons-Beekeeping-Keith-Delapla... 2 few things to know about beekeeping: * Beekeepers disagree on everything. * Bees have been surviving without humans for a long time. So in general as long as you're not horrible and actively trying to kill your bees, they'll manage fine.
  - pyre 12y ago
    > * Bees have been surviving without humans for a long time. While this is true, the point in the article about 'feral' hives and genetic diversity was pretty interesting.
codebeaker 12y ago
My first thought after reading this, being a couple of weeks away from owning my first home with land, and a roof terrace was… is it safe to keep bees on a 3rd floor balcony where there's occasionally going to be people? The terrace is 16 square meters, and right outside what will be our bedroom.. but I'd love to keep bees. Especially since the evidence suggests we need them, and they thrive in cities.
- Qworg 12y ago
  You certainly can put them on the terrace. I'd recommend looking for a local provider of nucs who has "gentle bees".
- durkie 12y ago
  Point the entrance to the hive facing "out". During high season, bees don't really hang around the hive; they leave and go forage. You can stand 2 meters in front of my hives and turn your back and have no idea there's a beehive anywhere near you.
  - marcosdumay 12y ago
    Some bees are calmer than others. But what I really want to tell is: > ...bees don't really hang around the hive; they leave and go forage. When they change, and decide to hang around the hive, don't let anybody at the terrace, or near it in any way. That does not happen often, and does not last for long, but you better stay away for a while.
  - saalweachter 12y ago
    Stinging insects in general are remarkably unaggressive when you are not directly threatening their hive. I've a hornet nest in my woodpile that I discovered after being stung after moving a piece of wood, and since then I've stayed 2-4 feet away and they haven't attacked again. Likewise, you don't need to be garbed for most of your beekeeping activities. You can change out feeders or pop open the top for a quick peek without being bothered. Many beekeepers have found that they can pull frames or shuffle boxes if they are gentle and don't rile up the bees.
- 12y ago
UrMomReadsHN 12y ago
There's a whole host of laws and ordinances governing beekeeping. You may even have to register your hive with the state. Don't start without knowing your local laws. http://www.betterbee.com/beekeeping-state-and-federal-laws http://www.betterbee.com/beekeeping-state-and-federal-laws http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/honeybeechronicles/article/Beekeeping-laws-can-vary-by-ZIP-code-4001410.php http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/honeybeechronicles/artic...
- JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  Many regulations are to protect bees. In Iowa for instance, its all about registering your apiary to keep pesticides from being sprayed during the day near your hives. But you're not compelled to do anything - you can skip registering and take your chances!
- Qworg 12y ago
  Definitely. That said, you can keep bees nearly everywhere. If not, your local group is probably fighting to make it happen.
- Tomte 12y ago
  Fun fact: In German civil law we have four sections on bees: beekeepers got special rights to enter others' properties in order to catch flown-out hives, regulating who owns a new hive that formed by merging two hives of different owners, and so on.
  - cerberusss 12y ago
    Awesome info, thanks for sharing that!
  - lultimouomo 12y ago
    We have that in Italy as well: there is a section of the civil code that states your right to chase your domesticated animals, but an other one that singles out bees explicitly. Curiously, the section about bees comes before the generic one.

by Qworg 12y ago

ensignavenger 12y ago

I've been wanting to get some beehives for a while. I am a bit concerned because when I was younger I used to have a minor allergy to bee stings. From what I understand, if I'm careful, I shouldn't have any problem. Anyway- do you have any websites or other sources you would recommend to someone just getting started?

sten 12y ago
You will eventually, no matter how careful you are, get a sting. Everyone does eventually when keeping bees. I'd get a checkup with a doctor to see how bad the reaction is. It'd be a good idea to keep an epipen around not just for yourself but also in case a visitor is allergic as well.
durkie 12y ago
I started with First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane: http://www.amazon.com/First-Lessons-Beekeeping-Keith-Delaplane/dp/0915698129 http://www.amazon.com/First-Lessons-Beekeeping-Keith-Delapla... 2 few things to know about beekeeping: * Beekeepers disagree on everything. * Bees have been surviving without humans for a long time. So in general as long as you're not horrible and actively trying to kill your bees, they'll manage fine.
- pyre 12y ago
  > * Bees have been surviving without humans for a long time. While this is true, the point in the article about 'feral' hives and genetic diversity was pretty interesting.

codebeaker 12y ago

My first thought after reading this, being a couple of weeks away from owning my first home with land, and a roof terrace was… is it safe to keep bees on a 3rd floor balcony where there's occasionally going to be people? The terrace is 16 square meters, and right outside what will be our bedroom.. but I'd love to keep bees. Especially since the evidence suggests we need them, and they thrive in cities.

Qworg 12y ago
You certainly can put them on the terrace. I'd recommend looking for a local provider of nucs who has "gentle bees".
durkie 12y ago
Point the entrance to the hive facing "out". During high season, bees don't really hang around the hive; they leave and go forage. You can stand 2 meters in front of my hives and turn your back and have no idea there's a beehive anywhere near you.
- marcosdumay 12y ago
  Some bees are calmer than others. But what I really want to tell is: > ...bees don't really hang around the hive; they leave and go forage. When they change, and decide to hang around the hive, don't let anybody at the terrace, or near it in any way. That does not happen often, and does not last for long, but you better stay away for a while.
- saalweachter 12y ago
  Stinging insects in general are remarkably unaggressive when you are not directly threatening their hive. I've a hornet nest in my woodpile that I discovered after being stung after moving a piece of wood, and since then I've stayed 2-4 feet away and they haven't attacked again. Likewise, you don't need to be garbed for most of your beekeeping activities. You can change out feeders or pop open the top for a quick peek without being bothered. Many beekeepers have found that they can pull frames or shuffle boxes if they are gentle and don't rile up the bees.
12y ago

UrMomReadsHN 12y ago

There's a whole host of laws and ordinances governing beekeeping. You may even have to register your hive with the state. Don't start without knowing your local laws. http://www.betterbee.com/beekeeping-state-and-federal-laws http://www.betterbee.com/beekeeping-state-and-federal-laws http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/honeybeechronicles/article/Beekeeping-laws-can-vary-by-ZIP-code-4001410.php http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/honeybeechronicles/artic...

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
Many regulations are to protect bees. In Iowa for instance, its all about registering your apiary to keep pesticides from being sprayed during the day near your hives. But you're not compelled to do anything - you can skip registering and take your chances!
Qworg 12y ago
Definitely. That said, you can keep bees nearly everywhere. If not, your local group is probably fighting to make it happen.
Tomte 12y ago
Fun fact: In German civil law we have four sections on bees: beekeepers got special rights to enter others' properties in order to catch flown-out hives, regulating who owns a new hive that formed by merging two hives of different owners, and so on.
- cerberusss 12y ago
  Awesome info, thanks for sharing that!
- lultimouomo 12y ago
  We have that in Italy as well: there is a section of the civil code that states your right to chase your domesticated animals, but an other one that singles out bees explicitly. Curiously, the section about bees comes before the generic one.