This episode will help you know EXACTLY what you should be doing in your hives on what dates in order to be a successful beekeeper, if you have 8 or 800 colonies.
I used to run 3,000 boxes and now I’m almost 60 I don’t want to do more than 30 , when I started with my family in 71’ 3,000 colonies was more carpentry and collecting/processing honey , the only pests when I started were ants , skunks and bears , now days it’s a challenge to do 10-30 boxes with mites , moths , disease and pesticides, bee keeping in the 70’s and 80’s is just a good memory I have and still good stories to tell , I feel bad it’s come to this that the planning and care has changed so much but I’m glad some younger folks like yourself still have that drive to keep bees in this challenging climate , good luck in your endeavors, just keep the passion and you will do fine , the key is passion , you have that and you will have a business
@@Ashby_Farms_NC it’s a tough business but it’s not impossible, the best advice I can give is beside keeping the passion, it’s best not to rush , grow with your bees , I’ve always been a natural farmer but it is such a struggle and you can be natural, but it’s more work and the community you live in will appreciate the work you put into your business, go to farmers markets, community sales , packaging and marketing is huge and get to know your community and grow with them , don’t be afraid to break your business down into multiple ways of income , make a small yard to make nucs for sale , sell propolis , honey , wax , queens , make a small mating yard to keep queens , you’d be surprised at how many queens you can sell in your area, I was inspired to do all of these things because the challenges of bee keeping have changed since I started and we have to throw everything at the board now that there are so many challenges with pesticides, disease and mites , but it can all be done ! Keep your kids interested too and let them grow and teach them everything about these amazing creatures, my uncle started me in 1971 and I will never be able to thank him enough, he would be 103 if he was still here and I never forgot the care he took with me teaching me about bees , the best thing you can do for your kids is give them your time , it’s worth more than any money you can save for them , it’s not replaceable and they will remember every good time and Everything you teach them , it will stay with them for life , and teach them care, it has an impact that will last forever. I owe everything to my uncle and mentor and remember all of the good times. Again , good luck and I hope the best for your family as they grow with your dream 🙏🏻
Thank you, Ashby. Just being a couple of hours south of you, this helps a great deal. Amazing work ethic!! I started 7 years ago at 60 and so much I wished I did so at your age.
Wow you have your schedule down . I checked my strong hive today. I had split it 3 weeks ago and it has swarm cells in a super that queen has laid in it. I pulled 4 frames from super with cells on it and put in a nuc that was queenless. I guess it’s going to swarm anyway. This is the second time it’s had swarm cells. The flow is going full blast and I was hoping that would of stopped it. Thanks for your videos I really enjoy them.
Great focus & determination. The time will pass quickly. I’m a new viewer trying to catch up on ur vids. Not a bee keeper just an old guy enjoying RU-vid.
And helping those in need if needed someone who care is a great thing in med. Field So many doctors and nurses are packed out for numbers now. Learned that in jan. With my blood clots. Great to have a med. Person who cares
Keep up the great work! State inspector out today and all was great with me! Says we look like we are 6 weeks ahead of schedule! Trying to stop all the swarms 😊
I found out about from Cameron at Honey Strong. I took my first class with him last summer and now my wife and are newbies as of 2 weeks ago. We are set for the ups and downs of learning how we can't harness natural nor the bees. Just learn to work with them. Thanks for the videos this, one was a big help in understanding a schedule. ❤
That was a very good video. Ya your dates will for sure not work for everyone BUT for the newer beekeeper that will help them kind of know what to expect or what to be looking for an by moving there dates a little bit one way or another to match there location but it is a great guide line . I really admire a young couple like you an Cori for busting your ass to get what you both want out of life an as you have found out it take a give an take to make it work. Keep your head high an one foot in front of the other it is just going to take time . What is the best time in the afternoon to give you a call ?. THANKS
Your schedule is impressive! Could you do something (if you haven't already) on keeping notes or record keeping? I have a hard time remembering what happened yesterday let alone 3 weeks ago. Maybe writing on the box or putting pen to paper.....thanks Ashby keep it up!
Thanks for the thoughts, my problem has been keeping bees alive during the fall/winter. So if I use your timeline and add a couple weeks (I am a little further north than you) I should be on track next year.
My toughest problem in beekeeping is schedule. I think with five kids and other things on the farm I get distracted from understanding the science of dates…if that makes sense!
I'm in the same position you are with not having drawn comb. What I do have is mostly deep frames. I would like to get mediums drawn and use them for supers. Also my flow starts later than yours so now I'm feeding thin syrup to have the colonies build up more in the deep boxes. When do you stop feeding so you don't have syrup in the supers? Also when do you put foundation on to get it drawn out. Last year I missed out on part of main flow trying to get supers drawn. I ended up with deeps as supers because they drawn out producing brood and I put excluders under them for the first super. I only had partials drawn and filled in the mediums. It's maddening.
@@Ashby_Farms_NC Thanks. It looks like my area is running about 3 or closer to 4 weeks after yours. I saw the first redbud blooms here and dandelion s around April 12th. I gotten figure out how to get foundation drawn in time.
I think you're miscalculating the break time or slow down in your scenario, you'll have no down time in managing 800 colonies and splitting up to 800 is way easier than managing 800. Not throwing shade just think you're in for a reality check. Hope you reach and surpass your goals and wish you the best luck, you're going to need it.
I just got my first Nuc a few days a go from Bailey Bee Supply and they are calm bee I didn't have to put a suit or gloves on. We are in the same state how much does it cost to register honey bee hive when I get to my 6th hive? I seen It cost 10 bucks but is that per hive or bee yard?
