Podcast Topics and Links

Travis from Bee 52 Honey hard at work!

In this podcast, Travis and I discuss the following topics and links:

• Starting out as a beekeeper
• Becoming a commercial beekeeper
• Launching Bee 52 Honey – a small business
• Bees – pests, predators and diseases
• Questions from Listeners and Facebook Group Members

Questions from Listeners:

• 1. What are the basic requirements in terms of money and space for starting a small bee operation?  The “small bee operation” is defined as enough to serve the purposes of your homestead. Honey, maybe some to sell, pollination to encourage growth of vegetables and flowers.
  2. What should you say to your neighbor when you find them spraying herbicides on flowering shrubs on a shared fence line, right behind the hives?
  3. My question is how many hives are too many in an area? Our neighbor has bees on all four corners of his 10 acres and told us that if we added bees the colonies could kill each other due to being too close. Is that a thing?
  4. Do you recommend for new beekeepers to have a mentor for the first year?
  5. Bees and bat houses: my neighbor has a couple bat houses, and my son has built a couple for scouts that we have. I’d also love to do bees. That being said, how far apart should I keep them so they don’t have a royal rumble (with the bees)?
  6. What is your preferred bear exclusion fencing system?  Do you have a brand and volts recommendation?
  

  A special thanks to Travis for providing excellent samples of Bee 52 Honey and Pollen. They are delicious!

Friends of Small Scale Life

As I develop friendships in online communities and in real life, I have seen really great people doing great work.  For some, I will be setting up affiliates and memberships as this blog and podcasts grow.  Please check out these friends and take advantage of their offers below:

Nature’s Image Farm – Do you want to add fruit trees or comfrey to your homestead or garden?  Now is the perfect time!  Check out my friend Greg Burns from Nature’s Image Farm for all your nursery stock and comfrey needs!  Greg also has bees on Nature’s Image Farm, so I look forward to his feedback on this episode.

Remember: when you place orders using the code “SSL,” you will receive a 10% OFF all nursery stock plus FREE shipping.  It is time to plant, so why not order something from Nature’s Image Farm?  Even if you do not buy anything, this is a going to be a great resource for new homesteaders like me.  Check out the Homestead How-To Page for more hillbilly homesteading information.

Small Scale Life Facebook Group  – This group will get you a backstage pass and access to other members of the Small Scale Life Community.  We will discuss gardening, healthy lifestyle, frugal living and having adventures along the way! This is also your chance to see what is coming up on Small Scale Life, see some content not shared on the blog, and ask questions of future guests.

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