What's it worth?... Single hive pollination.

[CpnObvious]

A coworker of my better half has been asking since the end of last year if we'd keep a hive at his house for pollination.  From what I understand, he has some decent size gardens as well as a small apple orchard.  As we've been s-l-o-w-l-y watching spring try to come, he's been asking more and more about it. He still wants one there and he will pay us to keep it there.

I believe his gardens are about 30-ish minutes away, +/- a few.  I'll be making the equipment, so the only real expense to guaranty we would have bees fairly early would be to order a new package.  Seems to me this would be a great way to fund a $100 package of bees to increase my hive count.

I'd be able to start them with a few frames of drawn comb from last year, but there are many things to consider.  Please let me know what you think, and what is a realistic fee to do this.

Some things to consider:
1) approximately 30 minutes away, I would only be able to get there every so often (maybe every other week, but wouldn't let it go longer than that)
2) 12.5 MPG in my truck
3) new package will need a high amount of visits to get them started with syrup
4) if I were to put an established hive out there (installing a new package at my house), I may not be able to watch as closely during swarm season to try to split them, doubling the hive & preventing a loss by swarm
5) I would be able to start another hive!
6) I'd be able to (possibly) educate a someone in beekeeping that might want to establish his own hive down the road?
7) I'm in the process of making a bunch of extra equipment anyway, so that's kind of a net-neutral point
8.) sugar for syrup will add up to more than what I pay in material for woodenware
9) is there a need for any type of disclaimer contract in case of allergy, injury, or other liability concerns?
10) if the hive produces surplus honey, whose would it be?  I believe he's only interested in the pollination factor, and we would certainly share some just because that's who we are... But what's the expectation level?


Not sure what else I may want to consider in this or what to tell him I would charge...  What's fair and realistic?

Thank you for your feedback!

[iddee]

I don't know what is fair and realistic, but I do know this, and you will, too, if you go through with it.

$1000.00 would be too cheap. Just tell him you will sell him a hive and help him anyway you can to get started. Send him here and to utube.

[Slowmodem]

My main worry would be insecticides.  Having bees around limits, if not prohibits, the use of bug spray on plants.  Y'all will have to approach that very carefully. 

[CpnObvious]

Insecticides, good point.  I believe he's an organic-type person, but certainly a good thing to verify!  Thank you.

[LogicalBee]

There is a beek around me that provides hives to gardeners and nature lovers.  Last time I knew his fee was $300 for the season and he took half the honey crop.  Between the honey and the rental fee, he was hoping to make about $600 per hive.  But as iddee suggests, it’s a lot of work and time.  Is it the best use of your time; only you can answer that for sure. 

You’re probably not going to make a life changing amount of money off the deal, but if you can incorporate part of your hobby with his land, then maybe you can make a little money and have a win-win situation?

As for a contract, it would be a good idea IMO to have details on paper. 

[Bakersdozen]

I believe the author Ross Conrad does this type of service and he's in New England.  Does his book say anything about how to provide this service?  He wrote Natural Beekeeping.
I would let the man know you are considering it and trying to figure out the logistics so that he doesn't give up on you and go else where.  I bet you already have a feel for this guy's character or you wouldn't be considering this.  You will want to make a trip out there to see locations for placing the colony.  At that time, I would suggest a check list of questions and concerns to discuss with him and come to an agreement on.  In an emergency, would he be willing and able to fill a hive top feeder for you?
He wants your service, so he is going to accommodate by not spraying without notification.
Is there easy access for you so that you can check on the colony? can you pull your truck up close enough to accommodate your needs?  Is there a locked gate?
Is the area secure from wildlife and vandals?
Just some thoughts.  Hope it helps.  Good luck.

[Perry]

30 minutes is a fairly long distance. I have found my furthest yards don't get the same attention as the close ones, and my furthest yard is maybe 20 minutes. That being said, an extra yard, especially if you are located in an area difficult to find one, has many advantages.
Would he possibly be interested in allowing you to keep more than one hive there? Maybe a second yard with 3 or 4 hives? Makes the trip much more worthwhile.
Hives rent for a very short period (3 weeks) here for around $150, so all season I would thing $500 t0 $600 would be fair if it was just one hive. He would end up with some of the honey as well.

[CpnObvious]

This is all great feedback, everyone!  Keep it coming!

iddee: I had Jennie, my better-half, suggest that early on.  At this point, he doesn't want to "deal" with keeping bees... just wants them to there to pollinate his garden(s).  Who knows?  Maybe that will change down the road.  It almost sounds like it... MAYBE.

Logical:  Yes, my goal would not be to make a bunch of money... Really just not to LOSE money!  12.5 MPG is obviously a factor here, the cost of a new package(s), the amount spent on sugar to help them get going (BOY!  Did I learn about THAT last year!!!), and foundation (I might experiment with foundationless this year on my over-wintered hives).  The Woodenware I'm not really concerned with because I can make it cheap-enough.  As far as "the best use of my time"... probably not.  Unfortunately the excitement factor often justifies that, somehow.

Bakers:  I haven't met him yet, but Jennie's a pretty good judge of character.  From the stories she's told me, I think he's a pretty good guy.  He's the kind of guy that brings in his surplus veggies and leaves them on the table at work for his coworkers to have.  I'm guessing, but not certain, that access wouldn't be a problem.  I'm not sure if it's gated, or not.  The town that he's in I don't think vandals would be a problem... not sure about wildlife.  I'm not sure if he'd be willing to feed... But I have some pretty large feed jars.  I could load them up pretty good.

I'm sorry (sort of) for typing so much of this out in summary form as I respond.  It seems like a good place to keep all my thoughts together for review, all the while being able to reference all your additions!

A big THANKS to all of you.

[iddee]

Then I would charge him the price of a hive, plus a trip fee each time out. Offer him half the honey, but expect to pick up a dead, moth filled hive in the end.

[rwlaw]

Pro
Good place to pick up produce, especially I you can put it up.
Might be a great place for honey production.
You know the owner, he's not going to ignore the hive if he sees something wrong (gee I didnt know that the lid had to be put back on).
Con
Might not be a great place for honey production
What has already been mentioned, plus I would look at the liability issue (neighbors etc)
Pests, does he have skunks coons, lions, tigers, bears oh my!
Can you talk him into at the very least making sure they have feed so you can limit your visits, or is he a stingaphobic.

[Ray]

An expensive read(it's a thin book) Kim Flottum's book: Better Bee Keeping covers some of your issues.

I think your first step would be to check out the area!  The bees will harvest at least a one MILE radius.

[Bakersdozen]

Would he possibly be interested in allowing you to keep more than one hive there? Maybe a second yard with 3 or 4 hives? Makes the trip much more worthwhile.

This idea had crossed my mind.  This would be a win win for both of you.  Especially, as Perry said, if locations are hard to find in your area.

Most of these questions can't be answered until a trip to the location is made. 

[CpnObvious]

I've given Jennie a preliminary list of things to discuss with him.  She hasn't been able to meet up with him.  I'm certain in no NEED of locations...  But maybe having a third would be an interesting education, if nothing else.  Based on my current hive could of only two, I would probably have to get some packages.  That being said, if I do decide that I can do this without taking a loss, I very well may bring one or both of my established hives there so I can keep a better eye on the new packages I would have to order.  There is much to think about.  I think one of my biggest concerns is that I just don't take a financial hit.  I'm not necessarily looking to profit, at least in my first year, but I can't afford to take a financial hit.

In other news...  I just got the OK to set up a bait trap on a friend's property.  They live next door to a farm that both my friend and one of his sons work at part time.  I've heard a rumor that they've run into pollination issues in the past.  I certainly couldn't be ready for this year... but I may start discussions to possibly provide pollination next year.  I could be thinking too big and getting in over my head... But I've always been one for a challenge!

[Perry]

I could be thinking too big and getting in over my head

Why should you be any different than the rest of us?

[pistolpete]

Here's what I'd offer:  Have the guy pay for the bees and the hardware for two deeps and help him get everything set up.   Then calculate what each trip will cost you in gas and ask for the equivalent in vegetables and fruit.   For example: it will cost me $10 in gas each time and I have to come out twice a month for 6 months.  That's $ 120 in veggies for the gas and all the honey from the hive for my time.  You supply any supers needed and take them back at the end of the year.

That way it's his hive and his liability and you get some nice organic produce for your troubles.

[Newbee]

Interesting read. I saw a guy locally that was asking $120/hive for planting one on your field. Don't know if that's the monthly price or for the season. Had an ad on Craigslist (but I couldn't find it again?) I'll be curious to hear how this pan's out for you. Thanks for sharing. Be sure to keep us updated.

- K