Buzzing around the city

muckyhands

I am hoping to keep honeybees very soon and I am trying to decide where to keep the hives.

I was thinking about my own back garden as I have heard of people keeping them in urban areas these days.

Does anyone keep or know someone who keeps bees in their urban backgarden and does it work out ok?

Corsendonk

This thread in smallholding might help

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056401228

paddy147

Bees equals free honey and lots of it too.:D

Am I right in thinking that it would also mean lots of nice flowers and fruit/veg too,if theres bee hives around??

muckyhands

Corsendonk wrote: »

This thread in smallholding might help

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056401228

Thanks very much for that:)

muckyhands

paddy147 wrote: »

Bees equals free honey and lots of it too.:D

Am I right in thinking that it would also mean lots of nice flowers and fruit/veg too,if theres bee hives around??

With bee numbers in decline it defo makes sense to have your own bees especially if you have a lot of fruit to pollinate.

paddy147

Interesting,thanks for that.:)

Ophiopogon

I can't wait to have my own hives, just have to wait till I'm more settled.

I'm sure you know it does take commitment, this is a good site for contacts.

It is needed in urban areas, if you go ahead you should also encourage your neighbours to plant apple trees. It would be great to get a mix for pollination.

Also, if you have the room, I've heard great things about borage honey.

muckyhands

Ophiopogon wrote: »

I can't wait to have my own hives, just have to wait till I'm more settled.

I'm sure you know it does take commitment, this is a good site for contacts.

It is needed in urban areas, if you go ahead you should also encourage your neighbours to plant apple trees. It would be great to get a mix for pollination.

Also, if you have the room, I've heard great things about borage honey.

Thanks very much.

The only concern I have really is what the neighbours will think about neighbouring bees but hopefully free jars of honey every year will go some way to keeping them happy.:D

I will be planting dwarf apples etc.. in my garden too and will make sure to have very early and late flowering plants in particular.

I know they forage some distance from the hive but what better on a cold morning than to have breakfast right on your doorstep.:D

paddy147

Who cares what the neighbours say,its you're back garden and what you do in you're own back garden is none of the neighbours concern or business IMO.


Oh,any joy with sourcing a bee hive or bees yet?

muckyhands

paddy147 wrote: »

Who cares what the neighbours say,its you're back garden and what you do in you're own back garden is none of the neighbours concern or business IMO.


Oh,any joy with sourcing a bee hive or bees yet?

I have been looking at a few places. I am going with the National hive as that seems to be the most widely used in my area.

My local beekeeping association will help with sourcing the bees when I have everything set up and hopefully there are other members that keep their hives in urban gardens that I can get advice from.

paddy147

You sound very determined to do this,so go for it.

What more could you want in a garden......bees buzzing around,great flowers and lovely fresh home made honey too.

paddy147

any news on this?
Did you get a beehive yet?:)

muckyhands

paddy147 wrote: »

any news on this?
Did you get a beehive yet?:)

Sure did...

It arrived today, its a National hive with a gabled roof and got a glass crownboard because I know I will be a nosy newbie.:D

Having fun assembling the frames.:)

paddy147

Popped around to have a look at this and take some pics of Muckyhands beehive,that just arrived in.

She had great fun putting it all together.:)


Cedarwood "national" bee hive.

muckyhands

Thanks for the pics Paddy147.:)

I will have to get a few more pieces for the hive over the winter, extra supers, frames and foundation, feeder etc... and some help from a certain someone to make a hive stand.;);)

Roll on 2012 when I can get the bees.:D

paddy147

muckyhands wrote: »

Thanks for the pics Paddy147.:)

... and some help from a certain someone to make a hive stand.;);)

Roll on 2012 when I can get the bees.:D

No problem.:)

So who would that certain someone "bee" then????:D

david75

hey
are these hives expensive? and where can we get bees from once i have a hive? any help appreciated:)

paddy147

david75 wrote: »

hey
are these hives expensive? and where can we get bees from once i have a hive? any help appreciated:)

I,ll ask her tomorrow what price it was.:)

david75

thank you sir!

muckyhands

Hi

The cedar national hive I got (pics on previous page) was from Fergal Murphy. irishbeehives@gmail.com Have a look at his website, www.irishbeehives.com he has cheaper red deal hives too. I asked for a gable roof and glass crownboard so that cost extra. It was 329 euro.

So far as getting the bees your best bet is to join a beekeeping association, you would get them through there and lots of help/ advice.

Try www.bees.ie as well. It is a site for irish beekeepers.

doctor evil

Anyone else doing CDBK course next month? I sent off the form and I am rearing to go!

paddy147

Any updates on this?

Seen as the weather is getting nicer and warmer now.:)

muckyhands

paddy147 wrote: »

Any updates on this?

Seen as the weather is getting nicer and warmer now.:)

Funny you should ask because I had the best morning ever.

Opened a hive for the first time on my own (with help from an experienced beekeeper of course).

Cue some pics....

You can really clearly see the baby bees in the third pic.

paddy147

Lovely pics there,especially the view of the baby bees.Never even knew what a baby bee looked like,till now.

Looked like a nice sunny day for it.:)

fred funk }{

paddy147 wrote: »

Any updates on this?

Seen as the weather is getting nicer and warmer now.:)

She's your girlfriend, ask her in person. Very strange.

muckyhands

The colony is building up strongly now.

In the first pic you can see the capped honey at the top of the frame and in the centre of the second pic theres a queen cell from last year.

muckyhands

doctor evil wrote: »

Anyone else doing CDBK course next month? I sent off the form and I am rearing to go!

I did the course last year with Fingal beekeepers, really fascinating.

How have you been getting on?

muckyhands

The Fingal beekeepers meeting is on tomorrow April 5th in Swords.

Paul O Sullivan of Bee Supplies will be before the meeting starts at 7- 8pm, showing a range of equipment if anyone is interested.