Author Topic: Returning to bees and a new world  (Read 5117 times)

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Offline Wandering Man

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Returning to bees and a new world
« on: February 13, 2016, 07:59:05 pm »
I'm here to learn what I can about beekeeping in 2016.

So far, it looks scary.  My first hive was pulled off of my brother-in-law's house in 1983 in Aransas Pass, Texas.  I managed that hive until I got too busy to care for it, and the wax moths took over in 1991 or so.  I was busy, Africanized Honey bees were scaring the pants off of everyone, and my county was in quarantine.  So I let the bee hive die.

I'm now in Victoria Texas on a 1/2 acre lot and my wife wants bees to pollinate her little garden.  Advise from others has convinced us to go with two hives.  We will pick up our Nucs from RWeaver Apiary at the end of April.

In the meantime, we are buying equipment, reading books, and eavesdropping on beekeeper forums.

Varroa mite, small hive beetles, etc.  I'm not sure I've got the courage to face all of these.  Right now, Africanized Honeybees are looking pretty tame compared to what you have to face today.

But, since I didn't learn about the mites until AFTER I ordered my nucs, and since I hate to turn away from a challenge, we are going full speed ahead.

Two empty hives sitting in the back yard, waiting for our bees to arrive.

I'm looking forward to playing with bees again!

-WM
Never argue with drunks or crazy people

Offline Wandering Man

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2016, 08:00:23 pm »
Oh, and since there is no beekeeping organization in Victoria, I'm hunting for beekeepers who live nearby.
Never argue with drunks or crazy people

Offline Perry

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2016, 08:23:45 pm »

 :welcome:
Let me be the first to welcome you to our friendly forum. We have a few Texas keeps here but I have no idea if any are close to you or not.
Yes, beekeeping hasn't gotten any easier, but hey, I'm betting you're up to the challenge. Varroa is the biggie, but if you are careful it doesn't have to be the problem you may think it is. Small Hive Beetle is something we have not had to learn to deal with (yet) up here.
You will find plenty of experience to draw on here and many folks willing to help.
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
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Offline iddee

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2016, 08:38:59 pm »
No eavesdropping allowed here. We jerk you in, give you a chair and cold drink, and make you part of the family.  WELCOME.

Tecumseh, one of the better beeks in the USA, is only 150 mile from you in College Station. You should contact him here on the forum and then drop in to visit with him when you pick up your nucs. He's not far from BWeavers.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2016, 11:06:04 pm »
Welcome Wandering Man, so glade you wandered over to this forum! The basics of keeping bees and reading the hive is the same it is just all the extra road blocks that you need to be aware of.. But with all the forums and youtube and the web, information has never been so easy to access.
Honey Judge, Beekeeping Display Coordinator, Armstrong Fair and Rodeo.
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Offline Lburou

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2016, 11:35:01 pm »
Welcome back to beekeeping & to WWB! 

You seem to be an hour and a half from the Corpus Christi Bee Club.  You can go to texasbeekeepers.org web site and look for Clubs closest to you.  I've heard exceptional things about the Central Texas Beekeepers Association, meeting in Brenham.

Find a handle for varroa mites and small hive beetles and you should be fine.  Bees here in Texas have changed in temperament since you last kept bees, you will always want to use smoke and wear a veil.

Lee_Burough
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2016, 11:43:58 pm »
<looks around> ... Wanted to make sure I was in the right place... :D
Welcome to the forums! 
Keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.
Henry David Thoreau
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Offline Jen

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2016, 12:36:53 am »
Hi Wandering Man  :)  This forum is my bee club. I live rather remote, so I just stay put right here. I can't begin to tell you how much honest and experienced information I have learned about beekeeping here. When I was invited to join this forum, my beehives were a mess! I hadn't the vaguest idea what I was doing. These beeks walked me thru many situations, and most I was not anticipating.

Make yourself at home, this is a wonderful family  ;) 8)
There Is Peace In The Queendom
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Offline kebee

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2016, 05:19:12 am »
 Welcome Wondering Man to the forum, I think you will like it here.

Ken
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Offline rwlaw

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2016, 08:29:35 am »
Welcome aboard WM.
Yep, times have changed, but nothing that can't be overcome, my best advice is when in doubt do nothing and ask questions. Ain't nothing that's going to kill your hives overnite. Good Luck!
It's not a honeybee, it's a honey bee. Whateveer!
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Offline BoilerJim

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2016, 09:12:25 pm »
A warm welcome from the Hoosier land. You'll find everyone friendly and willing to help or just have a chat if you wish.
Jim (BoilerJim)
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Offline tecumseh

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2016, 07:03:53 am »
Howdy form College Station.

here is a link to the Central Texas Beekeeper facebook site and you may well find a couple of folks there who are not that far away from your location > Central Texas Beekeepers Association and Friends.  you can also go to the Texas Beekeeper's Association web site and there is a list there of all the beekeeping clubs in Texas.

In mid April the Central Texas Club also has a knock down, drag out TEXAS SIZED bee keeping school.  Cost a few buck but it is well worth the effort and Brenham is not that far from Victoria.

I am casually associated with the Texas A&M Bee Lab run by Dr Juliana Rangel and if you are ever up this way with even a bit of prior notice I would be more than honored to give you a quick tour. 
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #12 on: February 15, 2016, 11:19:49 am »
WELCOME !!!!

enjoy wandering man! looking forward to reading your posts, don't be shy, jump right in and join us!
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
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Offline CBT

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #13 on: February 15, 2016, 08:47:18 pm »
Now that a lot of the heavy hitters have given you a hardy welcome, here's something from the small fryes
Look forward to learning much together. :yes: ;D
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Offline Wandering Man

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2016, 09:30:53 pm »
Thanks for the welcome, everyone.

I've joined the Texas Beekeeper organization and checked out the clubs nearby.

Victoria is called the Crossroads because we sit about the same distance between Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.  About 1 1/2 to 2 hours to anywhere.

It looks like driving distance for me is the same for Fort Bend county, Fayette county, and Coastal Bend organizations.

Lots of choices.
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Offline CpnObvious

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #15 on: February 17, 2016, 10:35:53 pm »
Welcome WM! You've picked a GREAT forum to eavesdrop in... Joust no peeking or poking around!  Ok, maybe just a little :)
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Offline Riverrat

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #16 on: February 23, 2016, 08:52:50 pm »
Welcome aboard.  Hope to see you around often
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Offline neillsayers

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Re: Returning to bees and a new world
« Reply #17 on: February 24, 2016, 12:36:28 am »
welcome wandering man :)
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