Bees and Beekeeping - You best be a bee-lover

[Aumis Graham]

I know this is a food forum, but when I was reading over the farming thread, it reminded me of tiny creatures which have always fascinated me: bees. It sounds a bit autistic, I know, but they are just so interesting, especially with all their products and uses.

This thread is for anyone to talk about experiences with bee's, and if you have your own hives, tell us how it is. Unfortunately, urban sprawl isn't the best place for bees, so I bide my time, but eventually, that will change, god willing.

 

[DogEatDogFood]

(INSERT GENERIC BEE MEME HERE)

 

[Exigent Circumcisions]

(INSERT GENERIC BEE MEME HERE)

 

[Tootsie Bear]

When I get older I plan of starting bee keeping with honey bees. But at the moment I have multiple carpenter bees that have built their nests in my shed and the trees that I allow them to live rent-free if they live up to their end of the bargain and pollinate my flowering plants in exchange for not calling pest control. I'm not going to lie, the carpenter bees are fucking huge and not something you want to fly around you while you're watering the lawn, but they work hard to pollinate my plants and so I'm happy so far. Thankfully I haven't been stung yet!

 

[Unog]

I read somewhere that these were terrible for keeping bees in, anybody know if that's true or just luddite horseshit?

When I get older I plan of starting bee keeping with honey bees. But at the moment I have multiple carpenter bees that have built their nests in my shed and the trees that I allow them to live rent-free if they live up to their end of the bargain and pollinate my flowering plants in exchange for not calling pest control. I'm not going to lie, the carpenter bees are fucking huge and not something you want to fly around you while you're watering the lawn, but they work hard to pollinate my plants and so I'm happy so far. Thankfully I haven't been stung yet!

I wouldn't worry too much, afaik carpenter bees don't really sting you unless you grab them or try to fuck with their nest.

 

[BillionBisonBucks]

I read somewhere that these were terrible for keeping bees in, anybody know if that's true or just luddite horseshit?



I wouldn't worry too much, afaik carpenter bees don't really sting you unless you grab them or try to fuck with their nest.

Luddite horseshit entirely, they let you harvest honey with minimal disturbance and no smoke. It's a giant leap in beekeeping tech, and I'm buying hives the second I have somewhere to put them.

 

[break these cuffs]

I have a couple friends who keep or have tried to keep bees and plan on getting some myself in the hopefully near future. Winters in our area are hard, although breed selection can help, and that's when one of my friends lost his after 2 years. There are quite a few small farms in my area that have hives and there is at least one dedicated network that has workshops and provides support to people trying their hand at apiary. The people I know recommend paying the extra money and buying nuc to start your hives. They have far more success with them and they're easier to set up. Every person whether they do it as a hobby or part of a business is happy to talk about bees.

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

I know this is a food forum, but when I was reading over the farming thread, it reminded me of tiny creatures which have always fascinated me: bees. It sounds a bit autistic, I know, but they are just so interesting, especially with all their products and uses.

This thread is for anyone to talk about experiences with bee's, and if you have your own hives, tell us how it is. Unfortunately, urban sprawl isn't the best place for bees, so I bide my time, but eventually, that will change, god willing.

You might be surprised. Rooftop beekeeping is a thing.

 

[Discourteous Discourse]

I wouldn't worry too much, afaik carpenter bees don't really sting you unless you grab them or try to fuck with their nest.

The males don't have stingers, just a dive-bomb attack. The females do have stingers, but are placid unless you mess with their burrows. I've never been stung, and neither have my pets. I've always let them do their thing because they're such excellent pollinators. When I'm in the garden they'll sometimes fly real close to my face or hands to see what I'm doing. It's a little intrusive, but they're more interested in getting their work done than messing with me. And I was pleasantly surprised this year to see small groups of them chasing wasps away!

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

I read somewhere that these were terrible for keeping bees in, anybody know if that's true or just luddite horseshit?



I wouldn't worry too much, afaik carpenter bees don't really sting you unless you grab them or try to fuck with their nest.

There might be some very minor disturbance in their routine because chemicals released during the aging of wax is actually part of the hive's regulatory mechanisms for decision making. But most of that involves the caps, and you're still disturbing them way less than if you did it the traditional way which is to artificially induce absconding behavior.

A lot of beekeepers are dumb hippies.

Oh another upside: I imagine the plastic is a bit less hospitable to various comb infesting parasites.

 

[IV 445]

@Spelling Bee

 

[oldTireWater]

Sure, bees are great. You gotta reign in you natural instincts though.

 

[Autopsy]

If I'm reading this right the Star Control double trouble lolsuit was resolved over beekeeping, so you guys are doing something right.

 

[millais]

Sounds like a risky investment with that bee-killing disease epidemic constantly threatening to wipe out your stock.

 

[XYZpdq]

Yeah what's the deal with that
I remember back in the early 00s when Art Bell would go on about how the bees were all dying forever

 

[Chin of Campbell]

I am way into beekeeping, and when I finally get a house I'd love to get a hive set up. Such industrious little fellows, bees. I always loved watching documentaries on them, and watching my grandfather's bees go about their bees-ness (sorry) in the yard.

And, best of all, is that fresh honey is fuckin' incredible and beeswax is fun to chew.

 

[Marissa Moira]

Sure, bees are great. You gotta reign in you natural instincts though.

If you dog is ever stung immediately give it benadryll.

The swelling won't happen due to the medicine.

 

[Shaved Kiwis]

If you dog is ever stung immediately give it benadryll.

The swelling won't happen due to the medicine.

Diphenhydramine is safe for dogs and not factoring the weight with one tablet shouldn't cause any real problems IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, buuuuuuuuuut I still feel the need to mention the following as a public service announcement: Some human meds work just fine on dogs, some surprisingly require much higher doses, most require smaller doses and bunch of common human medication can outright kill them.

 

[Pham]

I've always wanted to raise a few bees. Mostly to help the surrounding environment and just be a hobby sort of thing more than anything to make money off of. I gave it up awhile ago, though, since I live in a city. Even if I didn't it would be a monumental pain in the arse to buy land or start a little business in china. Maybe I can hide a little box of them on my apartment balcony or something.

 

[Creep3r]

It appears this thread could be greatly improved by a large influx of bees.