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“What do you know about bee keeping?”
That is how my uncle greeted me the other day… and was the inspiration to writing this My Week on Wednesday post. Because the answer was, honestly, “nothing.”
I admit that bees are one of the animals that we have considered adding to our little homestead because–let’s face it–as city dwellers our livestock choices are pretty limited. Besides bees, we’ve considered rabbits and chickens; our neighbor requested ducks, but I’m not sure ducks are for me!
But bees… aside from the fact that they are pointy little critters, they might be an excellent choice.
So… I gathered up some posts from my friends over at the Homestead Bloggers Network and some of my other favorite bloggers, and this is what I found out.
Bee Inspired to Take Up Beekeeping
Okay. That was dorky, wasn’t it?
But, seriously, there are a lot of really good reasons to take up bee keeping.
Five Fun and Fascinating Facts About Honey Bees — Herbal Academy
Pick Up Beekeeping as a Hobby and the Bees Will Thank You — The Homesteading Hippy (written by KarenLynn of Lil’ Suburban Homestead)
The History of Beekeeping — Stone Axe Herbals
7 Things That Honeybees Give Us Other Than Honey — Stone Axe Herbals
Why Keeping Bees Might be the Best Thing you Ever Did for Your Garden — Pantry Paratus
3 Reasons for Homestead Honey Bees — Better Hens and Gardens
4 Reasons I Want Honey Bees (And Why You Should Consider Them Too!) — Fip Flop Barnyard
Bee Prepared
So you think, maybe, beekeeping is right for you. Here are some things you need to consider and what you know to get started.
Best Tips for Keeping Honey Bees — Timber Creek Farm
How to Prepare for Beekeeping — The Homestead Lady
Getting Started with Bees — The Coastal Homestead
Beekeeping for Beginners — Montana Homesteader
What to Know Before You Start Raising Bees — The Homesteading Hippy
7 Important Questions to Ask Before Getting Bees — Better Hens and Gardens
4 Tips for Beekeeping with Children — Hobby Farms (by Tessa of The Homestead Lady)
Beginning Beekeeping: Getting Started with Equipment — Farm Fit Living
Bee Even More Prepared
So… now you’ve decided to keep bees. Here is some more information… about the ins and outs. And harvesting honey! Which really is one of the key reasons to keep bees in the first place.
The Queen Bee and Beginning Our Beekeeping Adventure — Timber Creek Farm
Sucussful Hive Inspection — Pasture Deficit Disorder
How to Capture a Swarm of Bees — The Homestead Lady
First Honey Harvest — Pasture Deficit Disorder
How to Process Raw Honey with an Extractor — The Homestead Lady
50 Backyard Beekeeping Resources for Beginners — Earth & Honey
What if Beekeeping Isn’t Right for Me?
No worries! You can still bring pollinators to your yard. You can provide flowers and safe places for bees. You can even build a mason bee house! Mason bees are friendly (the males don’t even have stingers!) native pollinators. They don’t make honey, but they are a great thing to have in your yard.
A Meadow of Bee-Friendly Flowers — The 104 Homestead
Blooms for Bees — Better Hens and Gardens
Make a Mason Bee House — Hobby Farms (by Tessa of The Homestead Lady)
Do you have bees on your homestead? What are your experiences?
Thank you for joining me for My Week on Wednesday. Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to come visit me on Facebook, hang out with me on Google+ and follow me on Pintrest and Twitter!
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