In this episode, I go through an introduction to Honeybees and explain many facts about bees and keeping bees that you may want to know before you start.

Show Notes: theprepperpodcast.com/040, or theprepperpodcast.com/whykeepbees

News:

Heat from the surrounding area in Yellowstone has caused some of the roads to begin melting. A park spokesman said that the liquefying of pavement that is now occurring is extreme and unusual.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-yellowstone-melted-road-20140711-story.html

Housekeeping:

The Honey and The Bee: Purchase on Amazon (http://theprepperpodcast.com/beebook)

Feedback at 978-KNOWS IT (566-9748) or visit my website and click the green banner

Feedback:

Discussion: Why Beekeeping is a Great thing to do, Bees and Colonies

Beekeeping is the perfect thing for the organic farmer

use as key pollinator

responsible for $15 billion in added crop value

Create honey that people pay good money for with your bees

Local honey

Raw, unprocessed

Great for people with allergies

Almost indefinite shelf life

hardens

Very Little work involved with beekeeping

They work to make honey and pollen

Free labor for you

Independent animals

you could be involved as little as twice a year

You can get Beeswax from keeping bees

Candles

Lipbalm

Bees Can Sting You so be careful

If you keep and are allergic, be extremely careful

Carry an epi pen and/or benedryl

Beekeeping is Cheap to do

Initial Cost

3-400 dollars

This is an investment in

sustainability

self reliance

money generating workers

Most of the cost here is equipment, not the bees

if you kill them, they can be replaced

The first Year of Beekeeping and what you should know about it:

It will suck

Learn the ins, outs, ups, downs

Very little profit

kill off your hive

Patience is key for the beginner

after a couple years, everything will fall into sync

You will coexist with them

You will ultimately get

Wax

Honey

Pollen

Lots of veggies and fruit

Learn from a local keeper

even commercial keepers

they may not be doing things sustainable

but you WILL learn useful techniques