How's the summer flows going?

[philh1503]

One hive.....a colony of bees.....plus related equipment. £1000 tops?
Equipment-wise, I have Fifteen Paradise hives, 12 new Abelos, 15+ Nucs and a fair amount of old wooden nationals. I have two swienty suits, plus loads of other PPE. My yearly spending on 'consumables' is pretty high. For example, I spent over £500 on frames and foundation alone. I currently have just over twenty colonies. My expansion has not been what I expected this year, but I know that's the way it goes!
This year will see me at least make some money back and next year, all things being well, I may be in a reasonably comfortable position.
However, this time next year I could be 'bee-less' as well, due to the situation I am in! I would not say I am 'paranoid' as the threat is very real to me. Look on the bright side though? You may be able to pick up some 'nearly new' hives for next to nothing!

If you read my post properly you will see that the paranoia I referred to was the "OMG Beebase is Big Brother they're coming to get me" type, not the "I have invested hugely in time and money and don't want to loose any of my bees by failing to do something within my control" type. If you read what I said it is obvious that I am a fan of Bee Base, which is there to protect all beekeepers and should be actively supported by all of us.

 

[Swn58]

If you read my post properly you will see that the paranoia I referred to was the "OMG Beebase is Big Brother they're coming to get me" type, not the "I have invested hugely in time and money and don't want to loose any of my bees by failing to do something within my control" type. If you read what I said it is obvious that I am a fan of Bee Base, which is there to protect all beekeepers and should be actively supported by all of us.

I have been inspected by Beebase before....,..some years back. What you don't understand is, that my first EFB email was a long time back.....the second over two weeks ago! I have not been told a date for any inspection. They MUST have been in my area from the offset? We are now in the middle of the summer. Regardless, I have voluntarily stopped all movements out from that apiary and have had to stop a lot of the plans I had for expansion there this season. It was my main base.
I am now setting up another 'base' for next season. However, I'm damned if I'm going to allow Beebase to keep me hanging like this again!
If I find EFB I will act on it, but I have found no sign at my 'base' or any other apiary for that matter.
I don't see Beebase as a 'Big brother' organisation out to get me. I've met them before.....good people doing a difficult job. BUT....not being cleared of EFB half way through this season, after being told MONTHS ago, is VERY damaging to me. I'm a responsible beekeeper who will not move any stock from there now, into Birmingham, for fear of spreading something I'm pretty certain I haven't got anyway!

Let's see if JBM 'likes' this reply? Gambling man here......4/1 'yes' ....... 11/10 'no' hahaha

 

[Boston Bees]

I have been inspected by Beebase before....,..some years back. What you don't understand is, that my first EFB email was a long time back.....the second over two weeks ago! I have not been told a date for any inspection. They MUST have been in my area from the offset? We are now in the middle of the summer. Regardless, I have voluntarily stopped all movements out from that apiary and have had to stop a lot of the plans I had for expansion there this season. It was my main base.
I am now setting up another 'base' for next season. However, I'm damned if I'm going to allow Beebase to keep me hanging like this again!
If I find EFB I will act on it, but I have found no sign at my 'base' or any other apiary for that matter.
I don't see Beebase as a 'Big brother' organisation out to get me. I've met them before.....good people doing a difficult job. BUT....not being cleared of EFB half way through this season, after being told MONTHS ago, is VERY damaging to me. I'm a responsible beekeeper who will not move any stock from there now, into Birmingham, for fear of spreading something I'm pretty certain I haven't got anyway!

Let's see if JBM 'likes' this reply? Gambling man here......4/1 'yes' ....... 11/10 'no' hahaha

I'm a bit confused. I got an email from the SBI telling me I was going to be inspected, and asking me to email/phone to arrange a date, which I did. What email have you received? Is it from a specific SBI? Or just a generic one from the NBU. Does it just say "we'll be in touch"?

Would be good to see the specific wording.

I stopped movements out of my apiary too, but I had a specific date to work towards (the inspection was only 10 days from the original email). Without this I don't think you are under any moral obligation to cease all movements.

 

[philh1503]

I have been inspected by Beebase before....,..some years back. What you don't understand is, that my first EFB email was a long time back.....the second over two weeks ago! I have not been told a date for any inspection. They MUST have been in my area from the offset? We are now in the middle of the summer. Regardless, I have voluntarily stopped all movements out from that apiary and have had to stop a lot of the plans I had for expansion there this season. It was my main base.
I am now setting up another 'base' for next season. However, I'm damned if I'm going to allow Beebase to keep me hanging like this again!
If I find EFB I will act on it, but I have found no sign at my 'base' or any other apiary for that matter.
I don't see Beebase as a 'Big brother' organisation out to get me. I've met them before.....good people doing a difficult job. BUT....not being cleared of EFB half way through this season, after being told MONTHS ago, is VERY damaging to me. I'm a responsible beekeeper who will not move any stock from there now, into Birmingham, for fear of spreading something I'm pretty certain I haven't got anyway!

Let's see if JBM 'likes' this reply? Gambling man here......4/1 'yes' ....... 11/10 'no' hahaha

Swn58: What you fail to understand is that I am a fan of BeeBase and slagging me off for having only one hive reflects badly on you. If you are that worried about EFB, have you chased the Inspector? Does having EFB in the area (which you say is not affecting your colonies) actually prevent you from expanding?

 

[ericbeaumont]

Anyone in the London suburbs can comment on the flow in their area

Privet is doing well in North London, Stephen. Lime is beginning to go over.

Although (as Howes described) the six main species of lime could stagger flowering into August, in reality it's all over.

Sweet chestnut is out, but not nearly enough is planted in this country to make a difference.

 

[StephenT]

Privet is doing well in North London, Stephen. Lime is beginning to go over.

Although (as Howes described) the six main species of lime could stagger flowering into August, in reality it's all over.

Sweet chestnut is out, but not nearly enough is planted in this country to make a difference.

Thanks Eric. Cycling around the streets this morning I did notice quite a lot of privet flowering at the top, where people didn't bother to trim it. There’s a couple of large Russian Vine plants close by. Apart from that it’s garden plants with a lot of lavender and ****’s in the street being foraged. Good flow coming into the largest of the hives with a lot of fanning going on from late evening. I wish TFL weren’t so diligent about keeping the overground tube tracks close by clear of ‘weeds’.

 

[Hux70]

In my 1st year before I'd registered with Beebase a neighbor was having his hives inspected due to a local disease issue. The inspector was more than happy to inspect my 2 hives. He was brilliant, very gentle with the hives and bees. Explained exactly what he was doing and what he was looking for aswell as pointing out things in the hive and what I should look for. It was a perfect 1 to 1 lesson and I learnt so much from him. Took all my details, grid ref etc and registered me on the system. Great service

 

[Erichalfbee]

How about a poll on whether we should keep posts about beebase here?
I could move them all to their own thread?

 

[Hux70]

Apologies. Didn't see the thread title, just picked up on some comments about Beebase

 

[enrico]

My asparagus is providing something going by the bees on it!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Apologies. Didn't see the thread title, just picked up on some comments about Beebase

Not aimed at you. @Hux70
Don’t worry.

 

[Erichalfbee]

My asparagus is providing something going by the bees on it!

Bees love it. Tiny tiny flowers but loads of pollen

 

[Curly green finger's]

Better now production colonys we're starting to eat there stores..
I could do with out 20 colonys not producing honey!
Im down to my last few jars of spring honey and there will be a break before I can sell more.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Better now production colonys we're starting to eat there stores..
I could do with out 20 colonys not producing honey!
Im down to my last few jars of spring honey and there will be a break before I can sell more.

Once you start selling honey to retail outlets you have to make sure you ALWAYS have enough put by to service them otherwise they go elsewhere. Have a smaller nucleus of outlets to start rather than trying to bombard every shop within miles. Patience. A business can’t be built that quickly unless you buy in honey. Just my thoughts

 

[Curly green finger's]

Once you start selling honey to retail outlets you have to make sure you ALWAYS have enough put by to service them otherwise they go elsewhere. Have a smaller nucleus of outlets to start rather than trying to bombard every shop within miles. Patience. A business can’t be built that quickly unless you buy in honey. Just my thoughts

I'm only selling to 4 outlets dani and a lul in honey on the shelves for a week won't hert.
My plan was never to have numerous outlets to sell to I want to keep it small on that front.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I'm only selling to 4 outlets dani and a lul in honey on the shelves for a week won't hert.
My plan was never to have numerous outlets to sell to I want to keep it small on that front.

That makes sense. Then as the business grows the rest can go in bulk.

 

[Curly green finger's]

That makes sense. Then as the business grows the rest can go in bulk.

That's the plan I want to sell more to restaurants and such places, I don't want to end up like rowse or hilltop having honey in outlets all over the place.

 

[pargyle]

I'm only selling to 4 outlets dani and a lul in honey on the shelves for a week won't hert.
My plan was never to have numerous outlets to sell to I want to keep it small on that front.

You would be surprised ... failure to supply once is a lost sale but if that custome then has to buy elsewhere and someone else's product ... you may have lost them for good - and if the competition's honey is as good as or better than your's in some way - they may tell their friends .. and before long you have lost your business.

Need to read up a bit about retail philosophy and marketing.... Having worked in retail for a good few years and then sold to retail for another ten ... worst crime in retail ... a product missing from the shelf !

 

[pargyle]

I don't want to end up like rowse having honey in outlets all over the place.

Oh I don't know .. not all that bad ...last year ...

Turnover up by nearly £5m to £142m
Cash in bank up by 214% to nearly £8m

https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/01024018-rowse-honey-limited
I'm not sure I would swap Rowse for your business ... but you could try and convince me !

 

[ericbeaumont]

you could try and convince me !

Rowse sit in offices looking at screens all day importing much of their honey at rock-bottom prices and making a margin. Less sweat, nice pension, but may as well be selling buttons.

Niche suppliers of local honey sell at top money to a limited market but engage with production all the way. More sweat but great job satisfaction (unless you want a Maserati).