I'll let you know when it comes time if anyone I know has some. Most of the people I know haven't said one way or another if they will be selling in the spring

1/3/2017 1:14:56 PM

Cool beans

1/3/2017 3:34:14 PM

might start dicking around with beekeeping this spring. i live across the highway from over 300 acres of blueberry bushes. is that a good source of nectar for them?

1/3/2017 6:27:36 PM

^not really. They will certainly collect during times of strain, but you might have to supplement them. Bumble bees are more successful on blueberry. If you are really interested maybe you can talk to your neighbor and ask him what crops are in a 3 mile radius, they will probably know who grows what.

here is a basic list of what blooms when, this is will help you identify the sources of nectar they bring in.http://www.ncbeekeepers.org/honey/floral-sourceswhats-blooming though this list is limited, I know there are more extensive lists somewhere, but I am too lazy to find them atm.

on the plus side blueberry farmers pay beekeepers for pollination services, so I am sure your neighbor will be thrilled with your new hobby.

This is a guide to help NC beekeepers keep up with and properly maintain their hives
https://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CALENDAR-FOR-BEEKEEPING-IN-CENTRAL-NORTH-CAROLINA-Final.pdf?fwd=no

It helps to have a community to talk to as well, I recommend you join your local chapter of nc beekeepers. Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

1/4/2017 10:00:44 AM

^ great advice. If you plan to just "dick around" with beekeeping, you will probably just end up wasting a lot of money up front with no results. I found out the hard way that beekeeping takes a lot more time and attention than I expected. I invested about $500 for everything I needed including bees, only to lose both hives before I ever harvested a drop of honey. I just didn't have the time required for the regular maintenence, plus I was just lazy and neglected them. I also felt I could just "figure it out" on my own, and didn't seek advice from other beekeepers. This go around I am getting involved with the local Beekeepers groups, and I have a lot more time to focus on the hives.

1/4/2017 11:00:18 AM

^thanks, you too. good luck this year! I myself am not able to keep my own hive, but I get to live vicariously through a noob neighbor who asked for some help

If you aren't ready to commit this season (be sure to have an early start on supply and nuc hunting on your first season, like start looking now) I would suggest joining the beekeeping association because you do not have to be a beekeeper to join, you can join just to have fun and learn. They also offer classes so you can be a certified beekeeper. You will also hopefully find people local to you that are willing to sort of 'train/teach' you the ins and outs of beginning beekeeping. the groups always have tons of great info on where to buy inexpensive supplies as well.

My beekeeping mentor gave me his copy of 'First Lessons in Beekeeping' by Keith Delaplane. It's a useful book to help you get acquainted with beekeeping as well if you prefer to learn through text, although you really don't have to have any literature if you do enough internet research and have a group/mentor helping you. The first season is tough once the newness of it wears of, but eventually it becomes habitual and you can find your zen while working with the bees

1/4/2017 5:06:22 PM

my buddy dropped off a hive at my house today. gonna go through it and see what kinda shape they're in sometime after it warms up.

1/8/2017 9:17:37 PM

Quote :

"We will have a limited number of Georgia packages available for pick-up in Mebane on March 22nd. We will also have 5-frame nucs made from our hives in Mebane for sale. They will be available April 1st and April 8th for pick-up. Attached is an order form with pricing and ordering info. Thanks Jeffrey Lee / Lee's Bees"

If you are near Mebane and interested PM me and i will send you the corresponding PDF

Here is the price list so you can get an idea

1/9/2017 1:52:05 PM

I'm thinking about picking this up as well. I've wanted to for years but my wife and daughter are allergic to bee stings and I was told if I started in the backyard they'd move out. It just occurred to me a few weeks ago that I've got access to a couple hundred acres of land on turkey farms I run, so I'm in full blown research mode. I've read just about everything I can find online and am considering signing up for the BEES online courses from NCSU, as well as bought "The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping BEES in Your Yard and Garden". Do y'all have any other literature recommendations?

1/12/2017 4:48:25 PM

got this in my email, sounds like a stellar deal if you are willing to drive to orange county

Quote :

"OCBA has ~45 hives that we received as a gift from an anonymous donor. We have identified downstream recipients for about 20 hives. Including OCBA’s 2017 Bee School Apprentices. That leaves about 25 hives that need good homes. Before they go to good homes we need to sort through them. We are looking for 5-10 volunteers to help with that sorting. This is 10 frame equipment. (see pictures at http://theocba.org/category/club-news/) All equipment was new in May 2016. The boxes are painted - various shades and grades of paint. Each hive consists of the following components: 1 - bottom board 1 - deep hive body 10 - plastic frames w/ plastic foundation (some partially drawn) 1 - wooden framed queen excluder 1 - top feeder 1 - telescoping cover - aluminum clad 1 - Moving/robbing screen 1 - 1”x 15' ratchet strap The Mann Lake catalog prices for this setup exceeds $150. The Exec Committee will offer surplus hives to sorting/cleanup volunteers at $50 per hive. Volunteers will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Contact me at beecd@icloud.com if you are interested. Timing will be weather dependent. Ideally on a weekend, but possibly during the week. Location will be Carrboro. Any hives remaining after sorting/cleanup day will be made available to 2017 OCBA members at $75 per hive."

if interested you can PM me or probably contact the OCBA yourself

1/25/2017 2:44:59 PM

Had to pick up a honey super to add. My bees are almost honey bound.

Picking up a box that had a swarm take up in it from my buddy this coming week.

5/20/2017 7:21:16 PM

some dude i work with keeps hives of bees. he is older and has arthritis in his hands. he heard that bee stings help arthritis so he purposefully got stung in his hands multiple times. his hands looked like shaq had transplanted his hands onto paula abdul's arms.

5/26/2017 6:24:43 PM

some studies say bee venom does actually help

5/26/2017 6:35:55 PM

checked out the swarm trap box today. tons of capped brood. they're about to really take off.

5/27/2017 2:49:51 PM

Split a hive and raised a new queen in the hive. How long till I start seeing brood when the queen hatches

6/2/2017 4:49:04 PM

https://goo.gl/photos/2HJRmi4nocd74VSQ9

got a little honey in my first year

8/20/2017 4:03:27 PM

^^ way late response, but queen takes 21 days to hatch, then takes a mating flight for a couple weeks, and then starts laying (workers take a little over 2 weeks to hatch).

8/21/2017 4:02:01 PM