Joined
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5 Posts
Hi everyone!
I love honey and have been interested in bees all my life. I am also a biologist and very curious about the different species/subspecies out there. Recently I even tried honey from giant Asian honey bees
I have also tried making art from beeswax (encaustic) but not very successfully (I also paint with oil and watercolor now and then). Beeswax candles are nice though.
Anyway, so I am thinking that I should finally get my own hive or two. Our yard has a nice nook next to the house with walls/fences on three sides, it opens to the garden on the fourth side. I am wondering if this would be the best place for a hive?
I also hear a lot of warnings about mites and disease. Someone said that 40% of hives die off during the first year. Are there any natural ways of combating these? The local supplier provides Italian honey bees, and I'm not sure if I should look for other types of bees?
Any suggestions are welcome!
I love honey and have been interested in bees all my life. I am also a biologist and very curious about the different species/subspecies out there. Recently I even tried honey from giant Asian honey bees
I have also tried making art from beeswax (encaustic) but not very successfully (I also paint with oil and watercolor now and then). Beeswax candles are nice though.
Anyway, so I am thinking that I should finally get my own hive or two. Our yard has a nice nook next to the house with walls/fences on three sides, it opens to the garden on the fourth side. I am wondering if this would be the best place for a hive?
I also hear a lot of warnings about mites and disease. Someone said that 40% of hives die off during the first year. Are there any natural ways of combating these? The local supplier provides Italian honey bees, and I'm not sure if I should look for other types of bees?
Any suggestions are welcome!