Newbie here from North Carolina!

[kasha77]

Hi everyone! Newbie here- My name is Kathy, and I'm an older woman who has been wanting to get into bees for years, but our children were young and I was so busy! Now they are grown and I've decided it's a perfect time to study about them before I jump in. (Although I'm realizing I'll probably never learn it all, since they are such complex little creatures!) I have a love for gardening, especially angels trumpets, herbs, and organic gardening, all which will aid in bee keeping. I also love Faux painting and photography. I write articles and am the seed and pollen banker for www.iBrugs!.com website, and I sell angels trumpets from my online webstore- "Gardens by Kasha" - www.gardensbykasha.ecrater.com. My husband of 33 years and I reside in the Piedmont area of NC, and have one acre of land, with countryside all around us. I am so excited about this group- you all are so very knowledgeable and I am gleaning from your posts whenever I get a chance! I'm going to get active and join a bee group and hopefully join a master bee keepers class. I want to be successful in beekeeping!

[Intheswamp]

Welcome to the hobby, Kathy. I'm preparing to start this spring, myself. Start getting your equipment prepared now so that you will be ready for bees in late February or early March. Read Michael Bush's website extensively. Get a copy of Dadant's "First Lesson's in Beekeeping"...good concise introductory book. Join a bee club if you have one local. Finding an experienced beekeeper to help you get started (a mentor) would be great.

Enjoy the journey,
Ed

[kasha77]

actually, I've just found a bee group meeting tonight! I don't have any equipment yet- I think I'll go with medium frames. Still searching that out. Anyone in my area selling nucs this spring?

[heaflaw]

I'm in Lincoln Co. Beesource is great. Read & learn.

[Daniel Y]

Welcome Kathy, And Ed. I am also new to actually keeping bees. I am in the process of building my second hive. The first is a Top Bar and the second is a Langstroth. No bees for either until next spring. I am using the time until then to read, visit this group and basically understand the bees better.
All the books I have read are older ones. Pre 1950's, I will starting to get some of the more recent writings soon. SO far it appears that understanding the bees is knowing what they want to do and why. then using that to manipulate their environment for them to willingly go in the direction you want them to move in. Make queens when desired, make honey, prevent swarming. Keeping them healthy is another issue.
I enjoy having the company of other new keepers. I wish you well in the coming season. Until then I appreciate any suggestions on books and such that you found helpful.
Oh, the local bee keepers club shut down for the winter. They will not start having meetings again until march. So I am sort of winging it for now.

[Specialkayme]

Welcome to the site!

[AmericasBeekeeper]

Welcome Kathy!

[kasha77]

Thank you everyone! I'm reading and learning!