I am in my second year as a beekeeper. There has been a few ups and downs, however, it is the one my most enjoyable experiences.
I like to think this hobby will make the world a little bit better in the end.
Beekeeping
Tue, 2022-06-07 21:27
#1
Beekeeping
Tue, 2022-06-07 22:14
#2
..no doubt it will webgear.
Tue, 2022-06-07 22:20
#3
laine lowe
Good for you, Webgear. I have no garden or outdoor space, so I am a bit envious of your endeavours.
Wed, 2022-06-08 01:03
#4
That's great webgear. Even some high rises on the Left Coast now have bee colonies on their rooftops.
Wed, 2022-06-08 07:54
#5
Good for you, Webgear. I have no garden or outdoor space, so I am a bit envious of your endeavours.
The space requirements are very small. You need about 50cm by 50cm for a single.
The are also urban hives which are even smaller.
Wed, 2022-06-08 07:56
#6
That's great webgear. Even some high rises on the Left Coast now have bee colonies on their rooftops.
From my research, Montreal had so many hives it wasn't healthy for the bees.
COVID caused an huge increase in beekeepers across the country.
Wed, 2022-06-08 15:10
#7
Great thread. Looking forward to more information on the smaller hives perhaps suitable for an apartment balcony...?
Wed, 2022-06-08 16:40
#8
Thu, 2022-06-09 17:01
#9
Here are two great sites for beekeeping videos:
(79) University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre - YouTube
(79) a Canadian Beekeeper’s Blog - YouTube
Thu, 2022-06-09 17:46
#10
Thanks. Am noticing a distinct decrease in bees in Toronto and as a result I have had to resort to a soft paintbrush to pollinate my potted balcony tomato plants.
Thu, 2022-06-09 18:45
#11
Thanks. Am noticing a distinct decrease in bees in Toronto and as a result I have had to resort to a soft paintbrush to pollinate my potted balcony tomato plants.
How did that workout? Does your area normally have a lot of bees? How far are your plants off the ground?
Thu, 2022-06-09 19:42
#12
Seems to work okay. I'm on the 7th floor and in years past I noticed more bees but last couple of years much less. Almost none.
Sat, 2022-06-11 16:04
#13
Bees will travel between 3-5 kms to find pollen, it might be possible that they have found an easier source of pollen to harvest.
Sat, 2022-06-11 22:46
#14
I had two bees flitting around my balcony flowers today. It's great if you can manage a hive but providing flowers helps too.
Sun, 2022-06-12 07:44
#15
Sun, 2022-06-12 07:52
#16
Sun, 2022-06-12 07:52
#17
Mon, 2022-06-13 20:38
#18
I found many of my plants on that list. I tend to favor wildflowers aside from my tomatoes, lettuce and herbs.
Tue, 2022-06-14 19:27
#19
I have a few charts that outline a whole year's with of plants and when to plant them to help your local bees.
My hives are in rural wooden areas, they produce a very rich dark honey.
Fri, 2022-06-17 19:48
#20
Successful hive check this afternoon, the bees are repairing damaged honeycomb and producing new honey.
I was able to observed both queens. The queens are laying plenty of new larva which is a good sign.
Fri, 2022-06-17 19:51
#21
'The impact is tremendous': readers on wildflower verges | Environment | The Guardian
I have read that this is really taking off in the UK. Love to see it happening here. There is so much wasted land adjacent to highways. It would also make a great lawn.
Fri, 2022-06-17 19:59
#22
I think the wildflower movement is picking up slowly in Canada. My yard has a lot of natural flowers growning in it, however isn't as near as much as I hoped for this year.
You can buy seed bundles now in Canada to allow this.
Fri, 2022-06-17 20:04
#23
Buckwheat Seed | Dancing Bee Equipment
From my awareness, theses are some of the best flowers for bees early in the year.
Red Clover Seeds | Dancing Bee Equipment
Clover is good for most the late spring and summer.
Fri, 2022-06-17 20:10
#24
I've heard that mowing wildflowers in the fall will help them disperse, and an occassional mowing the first year helps them establish. Mower on a very high setting of course.
Fri, 2022-06-17 20:15
#25
I will attempt that next fall. I am lucky, many people around me have amazing gardens.
Fri, 2022-07-22 21:48
#26
Well on a lighter note, at least compared to all the threads I've just finished reading, my apartment building has beehives put in on the roof, and the planting around the bui;ding is bee friendly.
Fri, 2022-07-22 22:01
#27
Every bit helps...
'Disaster Situation': Beehive Wipeout Crimping Canada's Blueberry Harvest as Crisis Enters New Stage
https://financialpost.com/commodities/agriculture/bee-hive-wipeout-is-cr...
"Canadian beekeepers have on average lost half their colonies this year and in some cases there's almost total collapse."
Sat, 2022-07-23 07:23
#28
I have found my two hives are doing a lot better this year compared to last year. This might be due to a number of factors beyond my control.
The cost of hive materials have doubled over the last year. I think you will see the price of honey increase later this summer and fall.
Tue, 2022-08-02 16:40
#29
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/52103/20220725/varroa-mite-inva...
This should be national news.
Tue, 2022-08-02 18:31
#30
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/52103/20220725/varroa-mite-inva...
This should be national news.
I think beekeeping has had more national news coverage this year than the last 3 decades combined.
More needs to be done to fight the Mite infestation.
Thu, 2022-09-22 18:25
#31
Yesterday afternoon, I pulled my honey frames off both hives. I think I will have around 90 pounds of honey once all the processing is completed.
Overall, I am satisfied how this year has gone.
Thu, 2022-09-22 20:28
#32
Pogo
My first year of Mason Bees went OK. About a half dozen tubes are clayed over. Have to work on distinguishing the nesting tubes for next year as they don't like an easily identifiable home. Lots of wild bees in the garden also.
Thu, 2022-09-22 21:56
#33
Did you get a lot of honey off your Mason Bees? How easy are they to manage?
Fri, 2022-09-23 00:52
#34
Pogo
Mason bees don't make honey. They focus on polin which makes 3 times better at polinating than honey bees.
Fri, 2022-09-23 00:56
#35
Pogo
Mason bees don't make honey. They focus on polin which makes 3 times better at polinating than honey bees.
Fri, 2022-09-23 00:59
#36
Pogo
.