Looking for a hobby, a way to make a difference, a way to save the planet, a way to supplement your income? Creating and caring for a beehive is a way to do all of this at once. Bees are jewels in nature's cap and vital to its balance. Buying American-made beekeeping supplies Indiana way helps the economy, too.
There is both help and information waiting at your local extension agency. This outreach of your state universities loves to help people start with bees. They will put you in touch with dedicated volunteers who've had years of hand-on experience.
First, you might want to check with your local extension agent. These offices, connected to large public universities, are valuable sources of information and also of volunteer help. The agencies and the many beekeepers in your area love to encourage newcomers to the art of raising honeybees.
What do you need to keep bees? Well, if you want honeybees, you need a hive (outer box) that holds the frames, which are the flat, stacking boxes that house the colony. You'll need to give the colony enough room to store food for itself and to house the 'brood' of eggs and larvae. You can start out with a 'nucleus hive' with only 3 to 5 frames, but the second year you'll need to expand.
Of course, beekeepers have special tools that make their necessary tasks easier. The hives have to be opened for inspections, cleaning, and to harvest the honey that the colony doesn't need for survival. You can buy a brush to gently move the bees out of your way. Hives are subject to pests and disease, so there are chemicals and natural remedies. Special nectar mixtures are used to feed the insects when their natural food isn't plentiful.
Protective clothing is important, since honeybee stings are painful and can be dangerous to people who are allergic to their venom. Even the most docile bees will get upset when their hive is disturbed. Full-body suits, hats and veils to cover the head completely, and gloves come in different sizes for adults and children.
All species of bees are pollinators, but not all give honey. There is a tiny native American insect called the Mason bee. You have probably noticed them hovering around your lavender and mint plants. They almost never sting and they are so small that a sting is insignificant. All Mason bees need is a sheltered nesting hole in a sunny location and a yard full of feeder plants rich in nectar. They are not as well known as the honeybee but are even more prolific pollinators.
It is so important for home gardeners to have pollinators for their flowers, trees, and orchards that more of us should make a place for bees. Whether you live in Indiana, on the east coast, or by the Pacific Ocean, this is a way to help counter the assault of pesticides and loss of habitat on these important insects. It's also a way to introduce children to the wonderful world of nature, to produce honey for you and your neighbors, or to make sure native species thrive in today's world.
There is both help and information waiting at your local extension agency. This outreach of your state universities loves to help people start with bees. They will put you in touch with dedicated volunteers who've had years of hand-on experience.
First, you might want to check with your local extension agent. These offices, connected to large public universities, are valuable sources of information and also of volunteer help. The agencies and the many beekeepers in your area love to encourage newcomers to the art of raising honeybees.
What do you need to keep bees? Well, if you want honeybees, you need a hive (outer box) that holds the frames, which are the flat, stacking boxes that house the colony. You'll need to give the colony enough room to store food for itself and to house the 'brood' of eggs and larvae. You can start out with a 'nucleus hive' with only 3 to 5 frames, but the second year you'll need to expand.
Of course, beekeepers have special tools that make their necessary tasks easier. The hives have to be opened for inspections, cleaning, and to harvest the honey that the colony doesn't need for survival. You can buy a brush to gently move the bees out of your way. Hives are subject to pests and disease, so there are chemicals and natural remedies. Special nectar mixtures are used to feed the insects when their natural food isn't plentiful.
Protective clothing is important, since honeybee stings are painful and can be dangerous to people who are allergic to their venom. Even the most docile bees will get upset when their hive is disturbed. Full-body suits, hats and veils to cover the head completely, and gloves come in different sizes for adults and children.
All species of bees are pollinators, but not all give honey. There is a tiny native American insect called the Mason bee. You have probably noticed them hovering around your lavender and mint plants. They almost never sting and they are so small that a sting is insignificant. All Mason bees need is a sheltered nesting hole in a sunny location and a yard full of feeder plants rich in nectar. They are not as well known as the honeybee but are even more prolific pollinators.
It is so important for home gardeners to have pollinators for their flowers, trees, and orchards that more of us should make a place for bees. Whether you live in Indiana, on the east coast, or by the Pacific Ocean, this is a way to help counter the assault of pesticides and loss of habitat on these important insects. It's also a way to introduce children to the wonderful world of nature, to produce honey for you and your neighbors, or to make sure native species thrive in today's world.
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When you are searching for information about beekeeping supplies Indiana locals can visit our web pages. More details are available at http://bastinhoneybeefarm.com now.
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