Hey Guys!
I'm going to do a bit of a diary here, all on the same thread so it won't be all sprawled out about how a Newbeek like me has begun this wonderful activity. I won't call it a hobby because in truth I think I will end up developing this into a small-income concern. Although I am expecting Newbeek setbacks, if I break even on costs by year 3 or 4 and a profit of around GB£150 per year thereafter I'll be over the moon. That'll pay for the wife's sports channels subscription! (I hate sports with a passion...)
- I joined this forum and made a great start - thanks to you guys.
- I've made the initial contacts as suggested by you and I'm waiting on replies. I'll be looking at various hive types but at this time I think I'm leaning towards the Dartington Long Deep (DLD) hive and I think I'm going to start with one hive but have two more ready to go. Hives placed at the back of my shed out of direct eyesight is going to minimise theft and damage. I'm going to camoflage the hives to blend in but I will have a bold colour on the front of each for the bees to identify their hive. I'm going to take the primary colours of the rainbow and place them on the hives so the bees see a greater UV difference like blue, red, green and so on. I'm also thinking of 2" fruit netting around the perimeter of the hives to further frustrate any would-be vandals.
- I'm looking at joining an appropriate Beek assoc with insurance etc. Costs are going to hit me hard but this is essential as I see it.
- I have around 100m2 of garden to plant fruit berry bushes that I like and the bees like - I'll be placing my order beginning of March ready to plant out when the frosts have finally gone. Raspberry, Blueberry and blackcurrant appeals most. Besides enjoying the fruits, I am a little worried about the acres of rape fields around me that I think the bees will go for. I don't think I want a near 100% rape honey. I'm good at taking cuttings and so the fruit berry bushes will fill out over the next few years. Jams will supplement the honey but not significantly because of the cost of sugar etc.
- I have the wood to diy into hives when I know which I want to go for, but I'm looking at and saving all the plans for now while the weather is too cold. I am also prepared to consider it might be worthwhile to buy some hives from someone like me who is into this but doesn't make that much from it. I do believe supporting from within. That said, I have also asked for some spare hives to be donated so fingers crossed.
All things being well, I'm going away in February and so I will update again in March - hopefully with major movements into this.
Catch you around these parts, guys!
I'm going to do a bit of a diary here, all on the same thread so it won't be all sprawled out about how a Newbeek like me has begun this wonderful activity. I won't call it a hobby because in truth I think I will end up developing this into a small-income concern. Although I am expecting Newbeek setbacks, if I break even on costs by year 3 or 4 and a profit of around GB£150 per year thereafter I'll be over the moon. That'll pay for the wife's sports channels subscription! (I hate sports with a passion...)
- I joined this forum and made a great start - thanks to you guys.
- I've made the initial contacts as suggested by you and I'm waiting on replies. I'll be looking at various hive types but at this time I think I'm leaning towards the Dartington Long Deep (DLD) hive and I think I'm going to start with one hive but have two more ready to go. Hives placed at the back of my shed out of direct eyesight is going to minimise theft and damage. I'm going to camoflage the hives to blend in but I will have a bold colour on the front of each for the bees to identify their hive. I'm going to take the primary colours of the rainbow and place them on the hives so the bees see a greater UV difference like blue, red, green and so on. I'm also thinking of 2" fruit netting around the perimeter of the hives to further frustrate any would-be vandals.
- I'm looking at joining an appropriate Beek assoc with insurance etc. Costs are going to hit me hard but this is essential as I see it.
- I have around 100m2 of garden to plant fruit berry bushes that I like and the bees like - I'll be placing my order beginning of March ready to plant out when the frosts have finally gone. Raspberry, Blueberry and blackcurrant appeals most. Besides enjoying the fruits, I am a little worried about the acres of rape fields around me that I think the bees will go for. I don't think I want a near 100% rape honey. I'm good at taking cuttings and so the fruit berry bushes will fill out over the next few years. Jams will supplement the honey but not significantly because of the cost of sugar etc.
- I have the wood to diy into hives when I know which I want to go for, but I'm looking at and saving all the plans for now while the weather is too cold. I am also prepared to consider it might be worthwhile to buy some hives from someone like me who is into this but doesn't make that much from it. I do believe supporting from within. That said, I have also asked for some spare hives to be donated so fingers crossed.
All things being well, I'm going away in February and so I will update again in March - hopefully with major movements into this.
Catch you around these parts, guys!
