ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers
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- From: MarilynMark Clark <wazazi.wa.binti AT gmail.com>
- To: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
- Subject: [ocba] bees in suburbia
- Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:25:31 -0400
I would like to hear a little discussion of keeping bees in less remote sites, well, actually in populated areas.
A little background: I have been beekeeping for about 10 years. Everything I might have learned has been from books, I have had almost no opportunities to watch knowledgable keepers at work. Where I kept bees was rural and very remote in West Virginia on five acres. Nobody could care in the least what their "neighbors" did on their land. Now I find myself in suburbia in a new development with an HOA(!). Though I must say as HOAs go, it seems to be less meddling; a situation I would like to preserve as far as my beekeeping is concerned. I now live on only a quarter acre. I do have a lot that backs up to a large, deep-set retaining pond and will be able to point my girls out over the pond to disperse for their foraging, so their flight path should not be a problem. Since the neighborhood is a new development the lots are pretty open; I am currently planting some trees and bushes to "shield" the hives.
I offer this article: http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/8183.htm (I don't know if the British are more polite or their bees more docile, but it is a start.)
My comments on the article:
Stings: I must say, I did not like the recent posts about members' colonies being more aggressive this year. Something I need to avoid at all costs, especially the first year. (I hope you come through for me Bailey Bee Supply.)
Drinking Bees: Does the pot full of water and peat work? I could never get my bees to go to water I put out for them, they always seem to prefer our birdbaths and chase the birds away!?
Overflying: I think this will not be a problem for me because of the pond described above.
Cleansing Flight: Is this really a problem? Here the HOA helps, no hanging out of laundry.
Swarms: Obviously this becomes even more important. My management in the past has not been ideal.
Number: I run 1 to 4 hives. I have ordered two packages for my first year here.
Rights: I do not think I really have any regarding this issue, only well-behaved bees and my hat-in-hand approach.
Avoiding confrontation: I have already spoken to my immediate neighbors and have gotten only positive replies. I would REALLY like to keep it that way if I can.
After robbing, how should I clean out the supers? I always just stuck them out in a field and let the bees (and their friends) clean them out, but this does create a bit of a cloud of buzzing insects that may make people nervous (even if I do bribe them later with free honey).
Thank you,
Mark
-
[ocba] bees in suburbia,
MarilynMark Clark, 04/15/2013
- Re: [ocba] bees in suburbia, Alwyn Smith, 04/15/2013
- Re: [ocba] bees in suburbia, Randall Austin, 04/15/2013
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Re: [ocba] bees in suburbia,
Just Bee, 04/15/2013
- Re: [ocba] bees in suburbia, MarilynMark Clark, 04/16/2013
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
-
[ocba] bees in suburbia,
John Rintoul, 04/16/2013
- Re: [ocba] bees in suburbia, Just Bee, 04/16/2013
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