Heritage Valley Farms: Bee Page
www.beebarn.com
Pollinator barn
If you are starting you homestead from scratch, or revamping an older homestead with the goal of self sufficiency, there are several animal species you MUST acquire immediately to get you started. All these species are easily acquired for a reasonable cost, and all require proper equipment. These animals are the first thing you need to get to stock your farm, and as such are even more important than a garden. They will help you and be the first step in starting off a successful homestead enterprise.
Our exclusive “BeeBarnTM” is the very first thing that you need to establish prior to anything else. This beehive will run itself, unattended, for as long as you choose. If you are still living and working in the city and need to get an idea about the health of an area without purchasing expensive land, this it the best first step. Find willing farmers (try to get them to pay you, or if you have to, pay them) near prominent roads in the areas you are considering. Install two or three of our “BeeBarnTM” hives in a prominently visible locations, facing southeast, and clearly place a placard stating your name and telephone number of the hives facing the road and any prominent trails from which people may attempt to access your hives. Sign should say something like…..”Do Not Disturb, Domestic Honey Bees hard at work”, Owned by…..your name and phone number….DON’T include an address.
This should be done in the middle of summer or early fall. But what about the bees? No one sells bees this time of year-but that is OK! Into each hive, you will insert a hive luer, this will be a tempting home for any feral or wild hives that may be swarming in the area and looking for a new home. More important than that, the first year, you will be able to tell what type of PEOPLE live in the areas. If in that first year you are getting complaint calls, and/or the sheriff is calling to bagger and harass you, or if your hives are stolen or vandalized, cross this county OFF your list and look elsewhere for a rural property! The old adage holds true, you can’t fight city hall! By not installing bees right away, you are not exposed to any liability if someone claims to be stung-it wasn’t your bees-since you don’t have any yet! If you get EVEN ONE COMPLAINT CALL-cross this county/area off the list. On the other hand, if people are interested in what you have, and maybe ask to buy or rent there own hives, this is a good sign, so put a star by the location.
You are providing valuable habitat for native pollinators, trapping feral honeybees, as well as providing a valuable service of pollination to local farmers, you should be commended! Your “BeeBarnTM” is a very valuable unit indeed.
Check on your hive every couple weeks. Are there any inhabitants? If not, perhaps this area is Eco-dead. This is bad if caused by chemicals or pollution, but on the other hand your property would be a welcome habitat producer in the area. The risks of such an area should be noted, however, because these indicator species do just that. If the life in the area is dead, there is a reason-I would cross it off the list! If, on the other hand, feral swarms have moved in, bumblebees have taken up residence, and mason bees as well, you have an excellent habitat area already, rich in life and Bio diversity, and healthy in environmental qualities. This is a real Plus for this location because it is likely that this is a healthful area.
Email us at: MysticElegance@yahoo.com
Visit us at: http://www.MysticElegance.com/Bee |
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PO Box 1205
Rochester, MN 55903 |
