My dream place is Hawaii.
That's as much for me as the bees.
That's as much for me as the bees.
Best place in the world to beekeep?
What, in your opinion, is the best place in the world to beekeep?
Be clear on criteria: Climate, flow, pest pressure...
Be clear on criteria: Climate, flow, pest pressure...
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I would say hawaii with all the nice flowers to provide nectar, nice climate, great water sources and the temp thoughout the year isnt bad as well. I really dont know about the pest concerns, i guess u will find that any where you go. But i always heard that its a high cost of living in Hawaii.
Northern VT and Northern NY. Right Mike? Good forage w/ distinct flows. Early build up period on dandelion and apple blossoms. Summer and fall flows. Long cold winters so the beekeeper can take some time off and still do work in doors, making equipment and/or packing honey. Maybe I should try it.
I'd say my backyard.... honestly.
Weather that allows you to raise queens from late April thru September. Probably a longer season than down south as we don't get a summer dearth were we can't raise queens.
You can raise northern queens which are really in high demand.
Good honey flows. (around 80-100lbs per hive is typical, more if you manage well and don't split as much as I do). Plus you don't have to chase the flow.
The winter is a nice break and is a great selection tool for breeding, plus I think it helps keep the waxmoth and hive beetles under control.
Cost of living is low.
-Tim
Weather that allows you to raise queens from late April thru September. Probably a longer season than down south as we don't get a summer dearth were we can't raise queens.
You can raise northern queens which are really in high demand.
Good honey flows. (around 80-100lbs per hive is typical, more if you manage well and don't split as much as I do). Plus you don't have to chase the flow.
The winter is a nice break and is a great selection tool for breeding, plus I think it helps keep the waxmoth and hive beetles under control.
Cost of living is low.
-Tim
I would like to be a keeper on Guam island. The weather would be nice the year around The problem would be getting supplies. What you couldn't make it would come from Hawaii or the Philipines. You would be the only keeper for several thousand miles
A few years ago I was in the Guatemalan Highlands (Antigua to Lake Atitlan).... 72F Hi and 55F Lo.... every day of the year they said. No AC... No heaters. Guess the bees are africanized but I know they learn how to work them. Orchids blooming everywhere - and cheap - cheap. I wonder where the Commercial beeks were... heck I didn't even see any hobbyists.
A keeper? A keeper of what? This is the second time in one week in which I have heard what I assumed to be beekeepers refered to as "keepers". First by the new Director of Plant Industry in the Dept. of Ag of NY and now here.I would like to be a keeper on Guam island. You would be the only keeper for several thousand miles
I'm a beekeeper, not a keeper. You, and the Director, wouldn't call a person who cuts down trees for a living a "ger" would you? He or she would be a logger, right?
Excuse me, please, I just have a bee in my bonnet about a term which doesn't mean much to me. Sorry. Just thought you aught to know.
Or maybe I'm really out of the loop and "keeper" is the modern common term for what I do for a living?
The back porch. Live with your bees, learn their moods, smells. Put them on a scale. Forget about locking your back door.
To make honey? Look for silos. Corn ain't worth a hoot for making honey. S.E. Wisconsin in the Kettle Moraine, Drumlins area . Almost as good as SQKCRK's area maybe? Not as many "furriners"(migratory snow birds) as other parts of the USA.
Roland
S.E. Wisconsin
To make honey? Look for silos. Corn ain't worth a hoot for making honey. S.E. Wisconsin in the Kettle Moraine, Drumlins area . Almost as good as SQKCRK's area maybe? Not as many "furriners"(migratory snow birds) as other parts of the USA.
Roland
S.E. Wisconsin
A block off the st louis botanical gardens. (which is in a GREAT old neighborhood of st louis with many professionally cared for yards)
well any nationally known botanical garden for that matter.
Farther north than south to better avoid the pest pressure.
well any nationally known botanical garden for that matter.
Farther north than south to better avoid the pest pressure.
My backyard on the southside of one of the largest cities in the US. 
I agree Mark, for the reasons you state. Good flows, nutritious pollens, Great place to raise quality queens. If fact, Vermont and New York used to be on the top 10 list for US queen production...many years ago.Northern VT and Northern NY. Right Mike? Good forage w/ distinct flows.
Yep, great place to keep bees...don't tell anyone, eh?
Okay. Just between you and me.Yep, great place to keep bees...don't tell anyone, eh?
Those of us from Illinois know that we live in the state that hosted C.C. Miller and Charles Dadant. The forage is diverse and plentiful here. The answer to the question is "right here, of course!"
You are ever so right Barry. Langstroth left NY. There must have been a reason. As did Dee Lusby. But Richard Taylor, Dr. Dyce and Roger Morse lived here until they died. For what that's worth.
I sure hope this doesn't start a rash of migration amongst beekeepers.
If you don't live in the best place to keep bees, maybe you need to look at it from a different perspective. Are you keeping bees in the best place you can find to live? Is keeping bees where you live contributing to the enjoyment of living there?
As did Dee Lusby. But Richard Taylor, Dr. Dyce and Roger Morse lived here until they died. For what that's worth.I sure hope this doesn't start a rash of migration amongst beekeepers.
If you don't live in the best place to keep bees, maybe you need to look at it from a different perspective. Are you keeping bees in the best place you can find to live? Is keeping bees where you live contributing to the enjoyment of living there?
As did GM Doolittle.But Richard Taylor, Dr. Dyce and Roger Morse lived here until they died. For what that's worth.
Never met him. But, I do know a guy who knew Dr. Dyce.
But, I do know a guy who knew Dr. Dyce.I just visted my father in Central Vermont. I have to admit that it is an awesome environment for the bees. We visited his bees and they had a lot of honey capped mid-July.
Adam
Adam
Ah, but we have Ron Fischer, just a few miles away from me.
http://sp7.fotolog.com/photo/7/57/56/fenykepek/1240187717799_f.jpg
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/press/releases/2003/images/inthe_wilson_bee.jpg
http://qctimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/article_92ddc32e-2312-11df-a715-001cc4c002e0.html
http://sp7.fotolog.com/photo/7/57/56/fenykepek/1240187717799_f.jpg
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/press/releases/2003/images/inthe_wilson_bee.jpg
http://qctimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/article_92ddc32e-2312-11df-a715-001cc4c002e0.html
I'm sure that everyone would (and probably should) say that it is right where they are. I was just thinking the other day that my area (Big Horn Basin in norhtern Wyoming) has got to be the best place. The nectar flows start in May with fruit trees, dandelions, and other spring wildflowers. Then in June (mid June this year which was a couple of weeks late) the alfalfa bloom starts. The alfalfa used for seed production is never cut and blooms constantly through August at least, maybe into September? By then there are other wildflowers starting a fall flow. We are in a semi arid desert so there are very few days when the weather keeps the girls inside- most of the summer we are in the 80's and 90's. Maybe a day or two will hit 100. Since we are in a desert the farmers irrigate all summer to keep the alfalfa blooming- that equals no midsummer dearth.
I started last year with two 3 pound packages and still harvested 75 pounds of honey. So far this year I have had queen issues so the bees haven't done as well as they could have but I still have 4 medium supers on each hive. Imagine what it could have been if the queens had behaved themselves!
I started last year with two 3 pound packages and still harvested 75 pounds of honey. So far this year I have had queen issues so the bees haven't done as well as they could have but I still have 4 medium supers on each hive. Imagine what it could have been if the queens had behaved themselves!
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