who influenced you?

[sqkcrk]

Why does one have to be "influenced"? Can't a man have an original thought?

Could be. How many have you had and what are they? Did anybody say you couldn't?

[Michael Palmer]

I did too John. He certainly was a character, in his white coveralls, red bandana, and a line of young children in tow...even at his age.

Must have been the comb honey he ate.

[johno]

A gentleman by the name of Gilbert Doolittle has influenced my beekeeping
John

[julysun]

Steve Tabor
BeeSource (the Many and the Few)
The WEB

[Acebird]

My wife would be number one because without her influence I would have never took up bees.
Michael Bush probably has the greatest influence on how I think about bees.
It would be ludicrous of me to think many people on Beesource have not influenced me and Mark you certainly are one of them. Thanks to all.

[Sam Fugate]

Many tears ago when I was 11 years old, I helped an old neighbor/beekeeper with his two hives. I guess I would have to say he influenced me.

[KQ6AR]

Michael Bush, was a big influence in getting me started. After reading the various books saying I would have to dump all the chemicals into the beehives I almost didn't start.
Thanks Michael, I'm still enjoying it, & my bees are surviving with nothing stronger than powdered sugar being dumped into the hives.

Michael Palmer, has me addicted to starting nucs. Thanks I think.

[jdmidwest]

Could be. How many have you had and what are they? Did anybody say you couldn't?

Several. Just trying to figure out why someone has to be influenced into keeping bees. It always seemed natural to me.

[sqkcrk]

I don't think that was the idea behind the question posed by the OPer. Who has influenced you most as a beekeeper? Who has been your best teacher, the one who has meant the most to you? Those sortys of things.

As an aside, would you share one of your original ideas w/ us, please? Thanks.

[Roland]

Mariano Higes.

Crazy Roland

[Splatt]

• My grandmother, the first beek I ever knew. Watching her work on her hives (and watching the bees at work) instilled in me a lifelong fascination with bees.
• My neighbor, who gave me the final push I needed to get into it for myself, and who has been a willing mentor.
• An awful lot of you here, who have answered my questions and guided me with patience and wisdom. I believe I literally owe the life of my hive (and my sanity) to the good people of this board.

[TWall]

TWall,
I thought she was asking about positive influences.

Mark,

Sometimes the most important lessons you can learn in life are what not to do!

That said, hearing the thoughts of someone who has supported themselves beekeeping is something I find beneficial.

Tom

[NasalSponge]

Richard Taylor

[Ben Little]

I was influenced by noone other than myself. i always liked bees and wanted to be around them , but i never had any opportunity to work with them , so last winter i started researching them and studying on how to keep them and in the spring i bought 4 nucs and i love it : )

Ben

[sqkcrk]

Mark,

Sometimes the most important lessons you can learn in life are what not to do!

That said, hearing the thoughts of someone who has supported themselves beekeeping is something I find beneficial.

Tom

Then Michael Palmer is your man. Smart and successful and knows how to express himself well.

[deknow]

Ruth Stout

[TWall]

Then Michael Palmer is your man. Smart and successful and knows how to express himself well.

Mark,

Don't undersell yourself!

I had the pleasure of meeting Michael a couple of years ago in Medina. To add to your list Michael is also very gracious and kind, he didn't laugh when I told him I had Russian bees.

Tom

[kennedy]

Andy Fox Dee and Ed Lusby

[jim lyon]

My dad Charlie and my uncle Archie from whom I learned hard work.....really hard work and my son Jeff that just has a natural aptitude for bees. Most everything new thing we try is the result of a brainstorming session between us. Sometimes it dosent work but usually it does. Fwiw my time favorite beekeeping person I ever knew was Irwin Glew who managed the Sioux City Dadant branch for many years.

[Michael Palmer]

Ruth Stout

Ha! I haven't thought about Ruth Stout in years.