?bee keepers?? Doe any one do that?

m y dad is taking up a new hobby of bee keeping. Was wondering if anyone is a beekeeper?

Mingsmimi: Not yet, But a couple in the area are starting out this seasson with 2 hives and asked if they could leave one here for a couple of weeks.

I jumped at the chance. polinating our tomatoes has always been a labor intensive job, so maybe the bees will lighten our work load.

Will let you know how it works out...........Dennis

I'm not, but one of my friends are. What questions did you have? We're going over to visit this weekend and I can ask for you.

My dad used to have bees when I was a kid and I've been doing a little research the past couple years to refresh my memory in preparation for getting a few hives in the next year or two. I might could help with questions as well, if you'd like. Whatcha' need to know? :-) Or were you just wondering who else kept bees? :-)

My dad is a hard person to buy gifts for. So, I thought ....maybe some of YOU all would know some little things that I could get him that he wouldn;t pick up for himself...like for Fathers Day and when ever.

Hmmm, something he might like that he wouldn't buy for himself and that would pertain to bees. Does he like to give the honey as gifts? Maybe he'd like some fancy jars and labels that say "Dad's Honey" or his name? Does he use top-bar hives or the regular ones that everyone has? If he has top-bar hives, he'll have a lot of wax to do something with and might enjoy making candles out of it to give away (or sell). If so, candle molds, wicks, etc. would make great gifts.

Here are some other sites that might give you some ideas:
http://www.dadant.com/ http://www.beesource.com/suppliers/index.htm http://www.beesource.com/suppliers/usequip.htm
http://www.bee-commerce.com/navigation.htm and a page from that last site at the link "Gift Ideas" http://www.bee-commerce.com/gifts.asp

Thanks! Will have to check them out. He just got his bees 2 days ago.

Oh, how exciting! Has he had them before? If not, then a good all-inclusive book about them would be an excellent gift! Or books on bee behaviour, bee diseases and/or how to do harvesting/candles/building hives/etc. Good luck to him!

Oh, I just got a great idea!! I think it may be, anyway. How about a bench he can put near the hives so he can watch them?! Kenny and I'd love that! But of course, we're not him. But maybe he'd like it, too? If so, they've got nice ornate ones for less than $40 at Wal-Mart and probably at other places.

That is a good idea. he has his bees at his buddy's farm about 10 miles from here and I'll bet he would enjoy that. Good one! Thanks. I'll have to go out t see the bees and check things out!

Your welcome! Yes, do go use that bench, too! It's amazing what you'll learn watching bees. I sit in my garden and watch them a lot, along with all other manner of creepy/crawly critters. I think my favorite is watching a bumble bee stick his entire fat little body, everything but the butt, inside a bright yellow luffa gourd bloom! It's also amazing how you'll feel after watching for a while ~ more relaxing by far than yoga or a hot tub. Grab a cold drink, pull up a chair and get ready for the show...

Don't know if I would go so far as to give up my hottub....but..I understand.

;-P

LOLOL, Mimi! Well, I guess you could plant some luffas next to your hot tub and THAT would be just IT! LOL!

lolol : )