What fee for an apiary site?

[Helen]

I've had an offer from a local organic farmsted to put my bees on there.

What would a typical / reasonable fee/arrangement be for that? I've only kept my bees in my back garden but may be good to move them into a more rural area.

 

[Anduril]

1lb jar of honey per hive in the out apiary.

 

[mazzamazda]

I've had an offer from a local organic farmsted to put my bees on there.

What would a typical / reasonable fee/arrangement be for that? I've only kept my bees in my back garden but may be good to move them into a more rural area.

I pay 1kg of honey for every 4 hives to the land owner

 

[peterbees]

One 454g jar of honey per hive per year. I expect they will be glad to have your hives. Maybe they would like to sell some of your honey.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

I wonder whether, in the circumstances you describe, any fee should be payable. Your presence will/should be part of their "unique selling point" plus they get free pollination services.

If they have a farm shop and sell your honey, they won't be doing that for nothing and if they've got any sense they'll have their own label for it.

Do not undersell yourself and the benefit that your hives, bees and honey will bring to their enterprise.

Having said that, if you have a good harvest, there's nothing wrong with sharing some of that with the landlord by means of a jar or two but it's not contractual - more of a neighbourly/goodwill gesture and all the better for being that.

CVB

 

[Codford]

I pay our neighbour (farmer) 1 jar per hive, per year - but in practice it’s more as I often drop a jar/some comb on him and his wife.

 

[For want of a better word]

One 454g jar of honey per hive per year. I expect they will be glad to have your hives. Maybe they would like to sell some of your honey.

I would say 1lb of honey per PRODUCTIVE colony.

I do not like the idea of the land owner selling our honey unless it is processed and packed by us, with our own label.
However if your land owner has a farm shop, they could easily move a few hundred 8oz jars annually, then you could always do a specific label stating processed and packed by xyz ( You) with your own lot number etc etc... using the sellers honey label. Explain that the time and extracting equipment has a cost... a decent automated bottling plant alone will set you back £3K!
Plus the additional cost of Insurances to cover Public and product liability!!!



Yeghes da

 

[Helen]

Hi. Thanks for the info. It's not a commercial farm as such, it's a community farm. They have 3 employees to manage it, and about 40 members who pay each week for a veg box as well as agreeing to work a number of hours each week. They've already got a top bar hive, but don't take anything from it. Not sure who looks after it, if at all. Was thinking maybe I'll agree to look after their hive (vape it, etc) in return. That would also make sure my hives would be ok from any nasties from the topbar.

It's an interesting idea for me ... will get my hives out of the garden and please one of my neighbours no end

 

[user 3509]

We pay one 454gm jar per month, no matter how many hives we have.

 

[bingevader]

Make sure you come to an agreement before you start.
In writing (e-mail should do) if possible.
My bees, your land, at least!
Just in case it all goes pear shaped.
If one of the community members has a reaction, or it turns out there's not enough forage, you'll all want to be able to say, "Thanks, but no thanks!"

 

[Swarm]

As they approached you, I'm with CVB, they haven't mentioned rent. I'd suggest you have a chat with the person who asked you. You might start by simply asking is there any fee for siting your hives and go from there. Please remember though, there is a mutual benefit so don't go giving your Quality Product away.

 

[Ely]

As others have said. A few jars of honey to keep things friendly. It is a mutually beneficial relationship after all. Perhaps they will give you some organic spuds in return for your pollination services in lieu of charge! Only in England are we this polite.

 

[user 15607]

We pay one 454gm jar per month, no matter how many hives we have.

how many hives? sound a little excessive!

My Landlord didn't get any this year, neither did I

 

[Ely]

how many hives? sound a little excessive!

My Landlord didn't get any this year, neither did I

One per month

 

[peteinwilts]

some landowners get grants via stewardships, and auditors love bees.

I am currently running 16 apiary's, and all are different.

I give one landowner about 20-30 jars of honey a year. I have lent him a suit, trained him and he performs minor inspections for me. Next year, I may let him keep the produce of one of the hives (the site averages about 100lb honey per hive).

another has a stewardship. I give him honey, but he also pays me when the bees are pollinating relevant crops.

One gets chocolates for his wife

another barters his produce for honey.

most do not want anything at all, and are happy for the bees are around. (often farmers with animals rather than crops)

when on other peoples land, you will soon work something out. Be friendly and get a reputation for it.
You will soon find people will be dropping you emails asking for bees on their land. If you find a grumpy or profiteering landowner, walk away. There are many landowners that would love bees but do not know how to go about getting someone.

 

[Anduril]

how many hives? sound a little excessive!

My Landlord didn't get any this year, neither did I

4 hives on a solar farm I believe. I'm in the process of moving my hives to the solar farm on the same property I already have bees, just waiting for the key.

There are many landowners that would love bees but do not know how to go about getting someone.

Same apiary as above, the farmer tried to get bees on his land for 2 years by giving his details to the WBKA at the Royal Welsh Show but heard nothing,
it was only by chance I rang him up.

 

[MartinL]

As they approached you, I'm with CVB, they haven't mentioned rent.

Who's charging, Who's paying???

There's ground rent, -(on the hives) & polenation fees +.

I'd say it's evens all round.

You can pass on a few jars in exchange for the odd bag of surplus at the peak of gluts.

 

[WoodenBeam]

Pound of honey per hive per year is the typical good will jesture. As a community farm I'm sure bees on the property will tick a few boxes so to speak hence the presence of something already. It would be worth while making enquiries about the existing top bar, you don't want to rub anyone up the wrong way by taking ownership but equally I wouldn't be happy with a colony of bees alongside mine with nobody ensuring all okay with said colony. EFB & AFB have been present in Suffolk this year and last - it's something that is getting worse

 

[Plenty of honey]

For me, before i put hive to ground, i clearly offer 4 kilos a year spring honey, 4 kilos a year summer, total 8 kilos of honey a year, for up to 20 hives in same apiary, regardless of whether i have a good harvest or not.
I feel thats completely fair. all they have to do is look at them, you do all the work, and they get their honey!for the size of land it occupies its a very fair price!

 

[MartinL]

For me, before i put hive to ground, i clearly offer 4 kilos a year spring honey, 4 kilos a year summer, total 8 kilos of honey a year, for up to 20 hives in same apiary, regardless of whether i have a good harvest or not.

So in a bad year, it's off to Sainsbury for >10kgs of sugar & 16 jars of value Honey?