The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Other => Topic started by: doganjo on November 12, 2009, 11:19:59 pm

Title: Bees?
Post by: doganjo on November 12, 2009, 11:19:59 pm

Just found this on the SAC website - thought you all might find it interesting.  I'm thinking of getting bees - have a half day course lined up with a  friend after New Year.

http://www.soilassociation.org/Takeaction/Savethehoneybee/tabid/434/Default.aspx :bee: :bee: :bee:

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: Fergie on November 14, 2009, 09:58:56 pm

I also want to get started with bees, but it's not easy getting some.

I attended (with my daughter) a bee keeping course at Auchencruive College near Ayr, Summer 2008.  I built a "bee garden" and got a couple of National hives, then came to an arrangement with a local beekeeper to buy a couple of nucs (bee starter colonies).

Unfortunately in Spring my local beekeeper found that out of six hives, only one was viable after the Winter, so he spent all Summer building up his own colonies.  Hopefully he'll be able to spare a couple of nucs next April.  He's not a beginner - he's an official on the Scottish Beekeeping Society, so was all the more surprised & upset to lose most of his bees without any obvious cause.

We need to do all we can to help bees & try and stop the decline in numbers.  I had thought it would be safer & more reliable to obtain local Scottish bees rather than imported mail order bees.

John

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: marigold on November 14, 2009, 10:47:14 pm

Are you doing your bee keeping course in Scotland? We're really keen to do one too?  (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Animals/bee-4.gif)

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: doganjo on November 14, 2009, 11:34:30 pm

Hi Kirsty
My daughter and son-in-law won a silent auction at the church fete - its for a trip driving a landrover up the hill off road and a bee keeping lesson once we get there.  They are giving it to me as part of my Christmas.  But the chap has lost some of his bees too so won't be doing it till March.  He's going to come to my house to assess the best place for a hive.  I think Oatridge College might do course though.  They have a website.

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on November 15, 2009, 11:03:44 am

I would like bees too but think my garden is too close to a public road/houses, oh i could put them at the front garden and they might like next door's booze when they have parties in the spring/summer ,lol

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: doganjo on November 15, 2009, 01:14:25 pm

You can help with mine, Linz and share the produce!

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on November 15, 2009, 01:44:57 pm

I like that idea

:)
Linz

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: Rosemary on November 15, 2009, 02:26:30 pm

Have a lok on the Scottish / British Beekeepers Association website. Ours runs beginners courses in January, ready to start with bees in the summer.

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: marigold on November 15, 2009, 03:55:00 pm

Great thanks both. Look forward hearing about your lovely day in March Annie. :)

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: herdsman on November 30, 2009, 01:22:52 pm

Try this site

www.biobees.com

Title: Re: Bees?
Post by: FrankBlack on November 30, 2009, 06:42:37 pm

Just signed the SAC petition:

http://apps.soilassociation.org/Bees/Register.aspx