Any bee keepers on NCKA?

Is there any NCKA'ers that keep bees?

I am looking to get into it for my garden and honey. Figured I would through it out there to see if it sticks.

Have in the past. no hives right now. Check local rules, not able to have bees in all locations. Some cities have banned bee keeping in small areas (yards) Go to http://www.beezneezapiary.com/ They have good info and can get you started. Also search for Apiary on the net.... Fun to do and start-up costs are pretty low. IF you can't do it there. You could put one up at my place in Wiemar. they benefit everyone in the area by pollinating. Good luck

Not had them myself, but lived next to a neighbors hive for several years and have know a handful of folks who kept them. I loved having the bees around and never once got stung. The hive was about 50 feet from my house if that.

Some residential areas don't allow them so be sure you won't get dinged by folks living around you. (I'm in a rural area that allows bees).

Sudden Colony Collapse wiped out all the bees that were kept by folks I knew.

There is a woman named Palika in Santa Cruz that knows more about beekeeping than I could ever learn.

I do know they like a reasonable, constant temperature, and that tending them while nude is a bad idea (watched my male neighbor attempt this....once) ya gotta love us SC hippies.

I've thought about it, but it'd be one more thing to mess with, and I don't use a lot of honey anyway.  I believe in some areas you can contact local bee-keeping clubs and arrange for someone else will put in a hive on your property and care for it so you get the bees (and some honey kick-back) but don't have to do much work yourself. 

I've kept a couple hives in the past as well but it's been a long time. Urban beekeeping has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years so there are a lot more resources available now. Do a web search for clubs in your area.

I had a hive for a while after one of our neighbors hives swarmed.  Easy and fun.  If you are looking for bees to help out your garden then get a few mason bees.