Thanks for all of the input, folks.
I am planning to keep all bees in my backyard, if I can, until I achieve some level of competency managing them. Not sure how many I can keep here as I do not meet the regulatory distances from property lines. I have spoken with neighbours that I cannot get the bees far enough from and they have no problem with the idea. Fortunately, the regulatory setback distances are not enforced here in Ontario UNLESS someone complains. One problem I will probably be dealing with is that the nearest water is a swimming pool although I also have streams within 500 feet both East and West. I will probably provide the bees with their very own water source beside the hives.
We pretty much have to assume that bear will turn up and there are lots of raccoons and skunks. An up and coming predator runs on two legs and drives pickup trucks. My beehouse housing strategy will at least slow most of them down if not repel them altogether.
The site I was asking about in this post is only about 20 minutes from my house. One thing I forgot to mention, which is probably relevant, is that the owner reports a feral hive on the property. Last time he looked, honey was oozing out and there were lots of bear claw marks on the tree trunk.
I probably have access to a nice chunk of land (40 acres) right here in town - five minutes away. The owner is interested in bees and actually took a beginner's course but bought any bees. He gave me all of his course literature to peruse. He says he would just like to have a couple of hives to look at so that would leave room for at least five or six of mine to start.
My brothers farm, separately, about 40 miles west - one cash crop, one dairy. They each could probably offer three or four potential bee yards. These will be for a few years hence after I get to the point of knowing what probably needs doing before I get to the bee yard. The cash cropper has been cutting back on his pesticide use, even on soybeans, as the cost/benefit does not seem to be there. They are far away but there are certain other advantages to be considered.
Other sites . I have been offered are North of town - further out into the rocks and trees. Some farming, but not much, going on between the rocks, trees and water up there. I am a little curious as to how bees would do. It is certainly remote with little overall pesticide use.
There are beekeepers in the area that would help out if needed. I spoke with the Chair of our local association yesterday (I met him at a meeting a few months back) and he is genuinely helpful. Our local bee supply house operator also seems very helpful but not sure he would be willing to go out to a bee yard. There is lots of help around if I need it.
I am planning to setup remote monitoring at each beeyard with at least a couple of cameras. Being able to just check on activity at the front doors at any moment seems to me a valuable thing . May be some temperature and humidity sensors as well and possibly mini weather stations. I have been developing the coding and doing some preliminary test runs - I have to say, though, that going online to look at the side of a garden shed in my back yard seems a little weird.
Thanks again, folks. Your input is very helpful.
