Bees

Comment

Comment by JeanHT on August 31, 2009 at 7:39pm

I keep bees and am in my third year. Due to bad weather (atrocious weather actually!) this, our third year, is really our first "successful" year. I have blogged about our bees and our experiences on my website. I would not in any way call myself an experienced beekeeper; I am a novice but I have started. If anyone wants to ask me questions I will be happy to help if I can. My blog is on: http://www.grandgennetaygarden.blogspot.com
You will have to keep looking for the bees but they are there!

Comment by Fiona Drummond on August 31, 2009 at 4:37pm

Hi all, bee enthusiasts. We are coming into our third season of keeping bees in Titirangi, Waitakere City, Auckland; there is quite a bit to know with bees and we are still learning, however we have had two successful honey harvests so far. Our whole family gets a lot of enjoyment from observing them and caring for them, there is a bit of up front cost in getting all the equipment required, and the harvesting is easier if you have a honey separator. Main gear you need is a hive with 3 boxes at least, a nucleus containing queen & workers, frames to go in them, a hive tool, a beekeeping veil and gloves and a bee smoker. I would recommend Diana Lancaster's book "There's a Cow in My Garden", there is some good practical advice in here on the section for bees, also Robbing the Bees has a wealth of information about bees, but more of a story/history of bees. We have been fortunate to have a bee mentor who we call on if we're not sure about something, Fred can also provide the nucleus of bees or you can catch a swarm, which isn't that difficult. We use varroa strips twice a year to keep varroa mite away. Tiffany, bees can be kept on a small section so long as there are plenty of trees/flowers around, just bear in mind if your hive swarms to the neighbours, they may be less than pleased, and you really need to have another hive ready if this happens. The carport roof wouldn't really be practical as you have to tend to them quite regularly and carry boxes up and down when you're harvesting. There is an Auckland beekeeping club based in Unitec grounds in Mt Albert that meets once a month. The bee supply place in Auckland is Ceracell in East Tamaki, you can buy all the gear you need there and 1 hive with frames is probably around $50; we made our own. If anyone would like to visit and look at our bees, our phone number is (09)817-5445.

Comment by Hester on August 31, 2009 at 2:56pm

I'd like to keep some bees.I'm concerned about the shortage of bees in my area.
A beekeeper told me that the local wild bees died because of varoa.

Comment by Annie Cree on August 31, 2009 at 2:27pm

I'd love to find out about keeping bees and I'm wondering if it would be possible to keep bees on small section - I saw a lad in England who kept them on his roof which was two stories up. I wonder if I could put them on the carport roof or is that too low? In the meantime I'll just keep trying to attract them...

Comment by Cindy Norris on August 31, 2009 at 10:13am

I've been attending a bee keeping evening course in Hamilton - week 5 out of 6 this week. There is also a bee keeping club in Hamilton. I would probably suggest that anyone interested in keeping bees do some reading up first, as some of the terminology etc at the club is beyond beginner level (I believe there are clubs in other parts of the country, where you might pick up a mentor) We don't have any bees yet but had intended to set up with some immenently as the best time is during the spring. However, I've got to go to the UK for maybe a couple of mths so will start bee keeping during the summer.

Comment by Denise on August 31, 2009 at 9:13am

Bee keeping has been on my mind for a while too...I'm really keen for someone to locate their hive(s) on our inner city jungle section (Auckland) and learn about it through participant observation :)

Comment by Kim Mounsey on August 31, 2009 at 9:00am

Keeping Bees has been on my mind for a while now and I would love to talk to someone who already keeps Bees about how to get set up and the ins and outs etc.

Comment by hana on August 31, 2009 at 8:59am

I don't have bees, but they're in my long term plan, once the toddler gets a bit older.... I'm going to lurk on here in the hope of learning stuff for when I can get some bees :)

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 32
• 33
• 34
• Next ›
• Page