Re: Making money as a beekeeper
Just a comparison / contrast -
I used to officiate sports, having baseball in my family bloodlines. That was a hobby that required exceptional dedication to learn the nuances of all the rules, but all you needed was a uniform, a pair of plate shoes, chest protector, shin guards, a hat, sunglasses, a face mask, an indicator, a vehicle, a phone, a calendar, and good self-control. You did have to hustle on the field, even on double headers in 106 degree weather.
But you made money. Plenty of money to play with, money for gas, and if you knew 4 or 5 sports, you would have enough to buy a new van or truck in a few years. That is a hobby that pays for itself and then some.
Beekeeping, taken as a hobby, is not lucrative like that. The scale has to be full-time, and take it as a way of life.
Buying honey and making mead could be done for profit, but you'll need several reliable beekeepers to get into a habit of selling you their honey, not all that difficult if the mead is good...