On 1/29/2021 at 7:43 AM, Gunny said:

Installing shelf units I made.

What you using those for Gunny?

10 minutes ago, John Morris said:

What you using those for Gunny?

Getting finishing supplies out of main shop and into finishing room. Next up is more 1qt storage and 1gallon paint cans.  When done I will have emptied 3 cabinets in shop.

On 1/30/2021 at 7:23 AM, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

So Keith, If I wanted 2 beehives in the yard what would the equipment cost not counting the hives? I'm referring to the smoke can, head net, and whatever else needed that I don't know about. Then, where do you get the bees?

That's sort of like asking how much would equipment cost to start fishing, not counting the boat :-)

 

The bare minimum would be a hive tool (you can also use a painter's pry bar), a smoker, and a veil.  If you are starting out, you might feel more comfortable with some gloves, too.  You can get whole bee suits, but they go for $100 or more.  One of the guys at the program yesterday is sourcing a jacket with two veils for $45 wholesale, while another vendor is $95.  There are a few large suppliers that will ship to you, and a number of smaller dealers.  But I would guess that you are probably around $50-100 for the accessories.  I think the last veil I bought was less than $20.

 

Around here, there seem to be a lot of Amish-built hive parts that come from places around the state.

 

Joining a local bee club is a good way to get hooked into vendors, maybe get a mentor, and some education.  Ohio State Beekeepers Association (OSBA) also have a lot of educational videos.  http://www.ohiostatebeekeepers.org/beekeeping_class/

 

As far as bees go, there are a number of places that ship in bees from GA in the spring, and a few locals that sell Ohio bees.  Here is one place that has a number of pick-up spots in western Ohio http://www.olddrone.net/    You have two options, usually.   First is a "nuc" (nucleus) that is an operating starter colony with 5 frames (normal hives have 8-10 frames per box)  It will have a laying queen, workers, brood, and food.   Take the frames out and add them to a hive box and you are up and running.  Second is a "package" that is a box that generally has about 3 pounds of bees dumped in screened box.   Then a queen is added in her own box.   Since "she ain't yo mamma" it takes them some time to warm up to her.  You put the bees in a hive and add the queen cage.   It will take 2-3 days for them to eat out the candy block and release her.  By that time, they've accepted her as their own.   If you start this way, you'll need to feed them.  The bees need to draw out comb for food and brood so it can take several weeks to get things rolling, then 21 days until the first new bees emerge.  If you have access to drawn out comb it goes a little faster.
Advantages to the nuc are faster start.  Disadvantage is increased cost and that you need "deep" hive bodies.  I use all medium, so that is a problem.   Another option is to catch a swarm.   This option varies by year and is probably not the best first experience for a newbie.

When I first started, the way to get a package was by USPS.   I am not sure they do that any more and with delays, might not be a good option even then.
 

Here are some of the biggies, in no particular order

https://www.dadant.com/
https://www.betterbee.com/

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Beekeeping-Supplies/b?ie=UTF8&node=4619353011

https://www.ruralking.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=beekeeping

 

Thank you! I have no interest in being a beekeeper, but I would like to have a few hives to help with the bee population...my contribution to the environment. S I would just want minimal involvement with them, knowing full well that probably isn't "nothing". But $100 or so would be a good investment to have them here.

18 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Thank you! I have no interest in being a beekeeper, but I would like to have a few hives to help with the bee population...my contribution to the environment. S I would just want minimal involvement with them, knowing full well that probably isn't "nothing". But $100 or so would be a good investment to have them here.

You might make it known that you are willing to host a couple of hives from a local beekeeper.   Generally, they will reward you with some honey seasonally.

Framed puzzle given to grandson as a Christmas gift.  Approximately 30"x30".  Ready to be delivered on next trip north.

 

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

You might make it known that you are willing to host a couple of hives from a local beekeeper.   Generally, they will reward you with some honey seasonally.

Now there's an idea I like! I'll have to call around and see if someone wants to set up in the yard. For the record what got me thinking about this was an article in one of the woodworking magazines about building a hive just because it's a good thing to do. Don't remember which magazine, but it sparked my interest.

10 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Now there's an idea I like! I'll have to call around and see if someone wants to set up in the yard. For the record what got me thinking about this was an article in one of the woodworking magazines about building a hive just because it's a good thing to do. Don't remember which magazine, but it sparked my interest.

 

My luck I would build one and Killer Hornets would invade.  

29 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Now there's an idea I like! I'll have to call around and see if someone wants to set up in the yard. For the record what got me thinking about this was an article in one of the woodworking magazines about building a hive just because it's a good thing to do. Don't remember which magazine, but it sparked my interest.

There is a facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/72605855043 and a local one in St. Marys https://www.facebook.com/GreaterGrandLakeBeekeepers/

 

Either or both would be a good place to make an offer.


I had a brief online discussion with the past president of OSBA regarding making your own hives.  There are lots of set ups and I didn't think it would be worthwhile for a onesie-twosie set up, but she thought it would be.  I have made a few accessories from scratch, but doing a hive body takes 4 parts with box joints and handles, two with rabbets,  A frame has 3 distinct parts all of different thicknesses and widths, interlocking joints on all 4 corners, grooves, rabbets and mitered ends.  I think I counted 14 distinctive set ups, many with more than one point of cutting.  I've done enough production work to know that one takes so much time, the second about half that time, and diminishing time as things move into quantity.   At the furniture bank, 3 of us can knock out a dozen or more simple tables in 3 hours, including set up and clean up time.

Edited January 31, 20215 yr by kmealy