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Stacey
Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 8380 Location: Kernow
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Silas
Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 6848 Location: Staffordshire
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Sarah D
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 2584
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 06 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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It can be quite expensive to start, even with all secondhand equipment. My bee suit alone, new, was over 100.00, but that is a necessity; add on gauntlets, hive tool, smoker, feeder, buckets, etc for honey extraction , the extractor itself. This is before the hive and the bees themselves. Several hundred pounds to start at least I would reckon.
I was lucky in that I had a friend who gave me a hive, supers and bits and pieces, but I still spent nearly 200.00 on equipment. It should be seen as an investment, as , properly looked after, the stuff should last for years.
You can keep bees in any garden; mine are in my garden, albeit up in the chicken run. All they need is a good clear flight path out of the hive, facing away from areas where people go. Mine face up and away over the fields at the back of the garden, in the oppostie direction to the footpath that runs alongside.
It is a good idea to ask someone if you could keep a hive or two on their land, bearing the above in mind. Most should be quite happy for payment of a couple of jars of honey.
Best time is during the summer; I got my nucleus in June, which cost 50.00. This was 10,000 bees approximately. No honey was taken off that summer, but last year I got a good 38lbs, which was excellent.
Not the cheapest of hobbies, if you see it as a hobby, but I saw it as a worth while investment into the housekeeping/self-reliance side of things.
Lots of reading is worht the time put in too, to get familiar with the terminology, which cna be quite daunting to a beginner.
I've been stung quite a few times, with full suit and veil on, but it's a hazard of the job.
Thoroughly recommended if you can manage it. |
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Silas
Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 6848 Location: Staffordshire
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
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Stacey
Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 8380 Location: Kernow
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Sarah D
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 2584
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 45676 Location: Essex
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Sarah D
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 2584
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
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Sarah D
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 2584
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
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