Are Bees For Me?(Mark Johns, 2006)

Why Do I Want to Keep Bees? Hobby Pollination Hive Products (honey, wax, pollen,

propolis)

Hobby Relaxation – if you’re a calm type to begin

with… Excitement – yes, you will get stung. I just think bees are cool – me too!

Pollination Add pollinators to environment in general

Benefits the surrounding ecology Pollinate my crops in particular

Bees concentrate on one nectar source Hive sends out scout bees May ignore your crop if large nectar source is

available (i.e. blackberries in bloom)

Pollination (cont’) Consider mason bees

Especially good for orchards Cheap and easy to maintain

Pollination (cont’) Consider keeping hives for a beekeeper

Cheaper - small scale beekeeper will usually just want honey

Less time – beekeeper performs all maintenance

Hive Products Honey

Variable yields – 40 to 100 lbs/hive Depends on amount of rainfall, temperature,

hive strength Beeswax

Small yield from honey comb cappings Pollen

Gathering pollen can weaken hive

Hive Products Propolis

Tree sap collected by bees Used by bees to patch small holes/cracks in

hive that might harbor bacteria or pests

Time Expenditure Weekend setting up site and new hives

Additional 1–2 hours installing bees Weekly visit: 2–3 hours (spring/summer of

first year) Beekeeper’s club meetings: 3-4 hours

month Education: Lots of hours reading books,

internet beekeeping sites, beekeeper’s club

Time Expenditure (cont’) Most time spent

Spring – installing bees, medicating, feeding, adding honey supers

Summer – mite checks, general health, feeding, adding honey supers

Fall – mite checks, medicating, general health, feeding, honey supers, extracting honey

Cost Expenditure $200 - $400 initial cost for two hives and

basic equipment Two hives are better than one Can compare hives for health Can swap frames between strong and weak

hives $50.00 annual maintenance (mostly

medications)

Basic Equipment Buy new – don’t inherit problems (mites,

disease) Local supplier or mail order?

Mail order – may not be cheaper after shipping

Local supplier provides additional source of information, beekeeping classes

The BEEZ NEEZ Apiary Supply, Snohomish

Basic Equipment (cont’) Epi Pen – insurance against anaphylactic

shock (requires a prescription) $30.00 Betterbee Inc. – ($225.00 assembled)

2 hive bodies w/frames 2 medium honey supers w/frames top cover inner cover bottom board w/entrance reducer

Basic Equipment (cont’) hive tool smoker beekeeping book leather gloves helmet & veil (no bee suit) varroa mite screen/monitoring tray

Basic Equipment (cont’) Additional hive ($60.95 assembled)

single hive body (and no supers) top cover inner cover bottom board w/ entrance reducer

Additional honey supers ($50 - $60) State hive registration fee ($10-$15)

Basic Equipment (cont’) Bee suit (optional) $50.00 - $150.00

Can use “light-colored” work clothes Medication (annual)

Varroa mite - $20.00/hive (ApiLife VAR) Tracheal mite – $5.00/hive (Menthol) Nosema virus - $10.00 (Fumagilin-B) Wax moths – can bag and freeze supers

Cost of Bees 3 lb. Package of bees with queen

$70.00 to $90.00 per package Can order bees from BEEZ NEEZ Apiary

Supply (2005 price $78.00) Order bees by March for mid-April delivery

Other Equipment Sugar water feeders - $25.00

May need to subsidize bees for winter Honey extractor (hobbyist): $225 - $350

Try to borrow one Electric fence - $100

Local bears, deer, skunks

Bear Damage

Still Want to Keep Bees? Join a Beekeeper’s Association

Education and camaraderie Helps support university research (WSU)

Annual dues ($15.00)

Washington State Beekeeper’s Assoc. www.wasba.org

Northwest District Beekeeper’s Assoc. www.nwdba.org (meets 2nd Tuesday)

Other Beekeeping Resources Books

Beekeeping for Dummies, Blackiston, 2002 First Lessons in Beekeeping, Dadant Press The Hive and the Honey Bee, Dadant The A,B,C's and X,Y,Z's of Beekeeping, A.I.

Root Insect Pollination of Cultivated Crop Plants,

McGregor

Other Beekeeping Resources Internet

BeeSource.com - www.beesource.com Links to other beekeeping sites page Discussion groups Plans for building equipment

Mason Bees –www.knoxcellars.com

Other Beekeeping Resources Suppliers

The BEEZ NEEZ Apiary Supply, 403 Maple Ave Suite A, Snohomish, WA, 98290-2562, 360-568-2191, www.beezneezapiary.com

Betterbee, Inc., www.betterbee.com Dadant & Sons, Inc., www.dadant.com Mann Lake Ltd., www.mannlakeltd.com

Have Fun and Good Luck!