Beekeeping and Bees

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Beekeeping, bee gardens, bee research, bee pictures, and honey appreciation.

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Ask a beekeeper (self.beekeeping)

submitted 1 year ago by SocializedHermit to c/beekeeping

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Hello, I am a 10 year beekeeper and bee remover. I've taught hobbyists and removers the ins and outs of beekeeping for awhile now, and I've gotten to the point that I feel there's very little that bees have left to teach me. I deal with a more southern climate, not much overwintering, and my bees are partly Africanized, like the local population. I can answer questions about hobbyist beekeeping as well as strategies for removal and relocation. Have a problem you can't quite figure out? Bees being a bit mysterious to you? Having trouble with a particular hive? Want to know more about what gear or woodenware you're working with? Hit me up here!

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[–] SocializedHermit 5 points 1 year ago

Sorry for the delay. I can see three avenues for helping bees locally. 1) Very bee friendly plants on your porch if you have one. 2) Providing a steady water source for bees. This one I think is better as most people have no knowledge that bees require water especially in a heat wave. 3) Support local beekeepers by buying local honey, like from your particular region, county or city. I used to sell honey by zip code.

If you have a porch there are a number of plants that bloom ridiculously often or even continuously, African Blue Basil is a great example, blooms constantly and doesn't produce seeds as it's a sterile hybrid. Bees are insane over it.

Watering is a bit trickier. Getting bees to recognize and interact with a stable water source long term is difficult. Often they know of a leaky water hose or A/C unit to draw water from. I've had success getting bees attracted to a water source by adding just one or two drops of lemongrass oil to freshly poured water. The lemongrass is a natural attractant and then they find the water, and tell the hive. Do this on really hot days for a best chance at attracting them. You can do this anywhere, just sneak a bowl or container around the grounds of your apartment building or get tricky and hang something from a window. If you have a porch then you are set. DON"T LET IT DRY OUT! They won't return once they have figured out another source. Consistency is best.

Buying honey from local beeks is an obvious and easy way to help.

Hope that helps!