Interesting proposal made to my bee club

[Bamabww]

Here's an interesting "request" made in an open letter to the beekeeping club I belong too.
 "I have an orchard in Langtown across sinking creek
about 2 miles and would like to offer space to a bee keeper who is pleasant
to work with and would respect my property. All I would ask is a few pints
of honey. What ever is fair. I don't know how much honey a hive produces.
I have apple, pear,plum, pecan, Asian persimmon and pomegranate trees as
well as 10 blueberry bushes and all trees are currently producing, I will
plant pear, nectarine and 3 more pecan trees this fall making a total of 31
trees.
Please contact me and let me know of someone who may fit my request.
Thank you,"

No one in our club lives closer than 20 miles to this property and it is in an area with known vandalism problems.

What do you think of his offer?

[Riverrat]

I would look around the outlying area and see what else is there to forage on. 31 trees is not a lot of forage for a few hives of bees. Pecans are wind pollinated so they wont be much good.  If the outlying area looks promising then I would say it may be a good opportunity for someones outyard that lives close

[apisbees]

As riverrat said 31 trees are not much forage and the 10 blueberry bushes are poor forage at best. What else is in the area and check on if spraying is happening in the area. If he wants pollination charge him for the service you are providing.

[barry42001]

Knowing all those trees and brushes will all bloom wirhin a month of each other, and unless they are truly large trees and bushes, unless there is alot of other forage even if you place only one colony there.

[Perry]

The security around the yard in question is also important. Would the hive(s) be hidden, or out in the open where they may be vandalized?

[lazy shooter]

In my area, the pecan producers spray a lot of insecticides.  Two long time beekeepers told me they do not place bees within two miles of a pecan orchard.

[brooksbeefarm]

From someone who has several outyards. You will be taking all the risk and expense, and he will reap all the benefits plus wants you to pay him (free honey). You will be out travel time and gasoline expense making several inspections, would he let you know when and with what he is going to spray his orchard? are there other orchards close by? Will he take responsibility if the hives are stolen? Like Apis said, i would make a business deal and charge for my service. Jack

[pistolpete]

my thoughts are exactly as others have stated.  My bees seldom forage closer than 100 yards from the hive.  So the area around the property is more important than the property itself.   Also it's a veiled request for free pollination.   A few pints of honey would be Ok if someone wanted to place a dozen colonies in a bee shed on the property.   I for one expect to pay some "rent" for an out yard,  but not for placing bees in an orchard that will benefit quite a bit from the pollination services.

[Bamabww]

I appreciate all the responses and I agree that this guy has it backwards. And it is obvious from his letter that he just doesn't realize what's involved in beekeeping. He's been invited to our next meeting.

[Bakersdozen]

He's been invited to our next meeting.

Good idea.
In the land owner's defense, he does say "What ever is fair."
Sounds to me like he will be open minded and willing to be educated about what is fair for both parties.

[Gypsi]

Let us know how this comes out.  I do think the landowner will be more educated at the end of the discussion

[Bamabww]

Well, the orchard owner didn't show for our meeting last night. He had contacted our secretary and wondered why no one had contacted him to accept his offer. He was invited again to come to our meeting and discuss the offer but as mentioned didn't show.

[barry42001]

Only effort exerted would be by you

[Riverrat]

Well, the orchard owner didn't show for our meeting last night. He had contacted our secretary and wondered why no one had contacted him to accept his offer. He was invited again to come to our meeting and discuss the offer but as mentioned didn't show.

That pretty much speaks for itself.