New from Pennsylvania, USA

[crmauch]

Trying to get into beekeeping by capturing swarms with bait hives (aka swarm traps). Have 4 up with a fifth one to go up and 2 more to be built.

I kept orchard mason bees for about 15 years (lost them in 2015). but got restarted with them this year (Japanese Horn-faced bees)

One consideration is that all costs will have to be kept to an extreme minimum. Am building top-bar hives.

Besides keeping costs low, want to be as non-chemical as reasonably possible (I'm not a complete fanatic in that area).

Am planning to grow buckwheat and sweet clover in succession plantings this year (other planting suggestions welcome!).

I also do needle craft hobbies, and grow some fruit (not always successfully).

Oh, and lots of reading (if I could just learn to knit and read at the same time.... )

 

[misterbee82]

Glad to have another member here to bring another perspective. Welcome, make yourself comfortable. Buckwheat and clover sounds lovely, also consider lavender and lilacs based on how much land you're on. Noticed you mentioned Mason bees, are they your only bees, or are you planning on being involved with the European honey bee? Any way if you have questions there are plenty of helpful members here.

 

[Hachi]

Welcome

 

[crmauch]

I'm trying to acquire honey bees via bait hiving/swarm trapping.

So right now, until one of my swarm traps hopefully works, mason bees are my only bees. They get put away at the end of May.

Have the lilacs. May try growing some lavender.

 

[sugarbush]

Welcome
If you are out in farm country you could try lining to find a feral colony, then do a trapout. The success rate with lining is likely to be better than attempting to swarm trap. Plus you greatly increase your odds if you employ multiple methods.

 

[Jimy Dee]

Welcome, great there is a USA group, always interested to see how beekeepers in other countries do it.