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Posts Tagged ‘hobby’

Most people when looking for a good home business, most of the time over look the beekeeping option. Apiculture is a good business model, because it is a low cost business, the product is needed, and is environmentally friendly. It’s a great way to make extra money for your family, on the other hand producing your own honey, wax and other useful products.

- What you need to start your Beekeeping Business

You really don’t need a lot to start this type of business. Not that much space is needed as well, because hives can even be kept in a small garden or even in a rooftop garden. But they should be kept close to plants that produce nectar, like meadow flowers, or clover. Oilseed rape is also liked by bees, so if you are in an area where that is grown, starting a beekeeping business would be a good idea.

Now this doesn’t mean it has to be right next door, because bees travel as many as four miles to get their nectar. Now, once you have decided where to have your bees, you need to choose the type of hive you want. The Langstroth hive is more popular to beekeepers, so called because it was the name of the inventor. This is the wooden box with frames of wax that come in the honeycomb pattern.

- Start by Learning

When managing a hive, you should manage it in such a way that the honey production is kept at a maximum. It does take some knowledge and skill, and anyone who is thinking about starting a beekeeping business, needs to learn, maybe not everything about beekeeping, only the basics. If you are seriously thinking about this new enterprise, then you should pick up a few books on the subject, and if possible join a local beekeepers association. You will learn a lot from being around other beekeepers.

- The Needed Tools

One good thing about beekeeping is that you don’t need a lot of tools, especially if managing around 2 hives. You will need a hive tool, which helps you in opening the hive to inspect it. You will need the hive and the bees. The other equipment needed is beekeeping gear and the smoker box. The smoke box calms the bees, and when you puff some smoke into the hive it calms the bees, and lets you inspect better.

- Getting Your Bee Colony

The easiest way to get your bee hive is to buy a ready made colony, which is bought from beekeeping suppliers. If this way doesn’t appeal to you, then you might consider a nucleus, which consists of a queen with workers that come from another colony. You can place them in your hive and then feed them with sugar water until they are established, and ready to find their own nector to feed on.

Getting a colony is the 3rd way which is the most dangerous and involves getting a swarm. You have to get a swarm which has a queen bee and lots of workers. You will find these in trees. You do this by cutting the branch and make the bees fall into your box. Take your box to the hive and lay a sheet on the ground. Then just shake the bees so thy get out of your box onto the sheet and then they will find the way to your hive.

A number of people don’t just go in beekeeping it’s something they were raised and brought up in. Most companies that deal with beekeeping and providing beekeeping supplies are family owned. Dadant and Sons, a company based out of Hamilton, IL has been in the business of providing beekeeping equipment and has been around for many years.

They sell everything from beekeeping attire from the head to the torso, and even full body suits with headwear. They also sell journals that are published about beekeeping and also selling copies from the archives as well.

They have a large selection of books that give you a lesson on beekeeping to candle making since many beekeepers also not only collect and sell honey, but make candles as well out of the beeswax. A lot of family owned beekeepers usually produce the honey and beeswax items on their farms and sell to local stores. Usually it’s a family business that has been a long-standing tradition.

Most beekeeping families have been at this for several generations so it’s not a new thing many families get into with this. A lot of children grow up making this into their livelihood since its how their ancestors made their living. Many companies now are in fact commercially owned since so many family-owned businesses are forced out because of the rising cost of running a business and many mom and pop places that were not technologically advanced were the ones who suffered because those who had the resources to invest in websites and tools needed to stay ahead in the business were the ones who made the transition into the 21st century with their businesses.

This was a business that began as a simple hobby and just a small way to make extra money on the side or to just have something extra for the dinner table since honey was super popular to be put on hot biscuits and toast for dinner and breakfast since it was used as marmalade.

At the time honey wasn’t a big resource since people used sugar and molasses to use on their food, but the moment honey was discovered to be cheap and inexpensive to make that was the time beekeeping was popular and a business to make profits for many families in places where beekeeping is practiced.

As a result for this discovery of honey becoming inexpensive, which became what beekeeping has developed into today. The only issues was in this day and age more pesticides was being used and the problems with having to treat much of the honey that was being made which left a lot of people wondering how safe it was to consume such a product.

It was a concern since you have the organic food movement that totally goes against the use of pesticides and any means to chemically alter or treat food or livestock used for food products. Today you have family owned companies at the commercial level that produce honey products and beeswax used in cosmetics and candle making.

For anyone who wants to start a beekeeping business, an important fact to remember is that it involves a lot of hard work and is not something that is easy to maintain, especially if they want a good profit from this business. Doing it as a hobby may not need as much of an effort as when it is one’s livelihood and more time is needed.

A lot more money is needed in beekeeping as a livelihood than as a hobby and if you done this then you definitely need to get your money back. Good quantity is not only needed of produce from the beehives, you would also need the top quality honey so that you can get good sales. Make sure you also have the latest beekeeping equipment and keep to the latest technology to be sure you produce top quality honey always.

Most beekeepers have been in the business for a long time and know all the ropes of the trade. They also have a website which advertises their goods which gets them lots of extra customers. If you don’t own a business website then you will have limited customers as you will not be able to spread the word about your farm products to anyone else apart from those who stay in your locality.

Beekeeping is competitive

When comparing to the commercial beekeepers the small business beekeepers have a tough time competing. Producing small quantity honey takes a lot of effort and if the technology and equipment is not the latest in the market then the produce falls even lower and the hard work profit will be negligible at the end of the day.

To make the smaller beekeepers remain in business the commercial ones usually take advantage of the situation and buy up or sub contract the produce of the smaller business’s and add it on to their own. Other agricultural businesses have co operative societies but with beekeeping there is non. However, by subcontracting the smaller beekeepers is of benefit to both parties.

Those Sub Contractors

Though subcontracting may sound like a very good idea its totally not reliable because the company you subcontracted with can lay you off if they are not satisfied with your product or for any other reason. This is very risky because the outcome is not known and how the season will treat your products is unpredictable.

Beekeepers have to worry about their financial gain and keep wondering whether the market demand would be worth while or not in the coming seasons. There produce is not as dependable as a farmer who knows what his farm will give him if the climate is suitable and the weather good for his harvest.

When you are in the beekeeping business you are always concerned about the bee activities and how much they produce. This also depends on the climate which has to be suitable for the honey bees.

The thought of starting a beekeeping business does sound exciting and fun, but in reality a lot of work is done and a lot of time is involved.

Most people who are in this are actually doing this as a hobby. Having a hobby and a livelihood are two entirely different areas since one is something you invest time and in some cases money and one is when you’re trying to make a living at. Beekeeping is like farming you have to stay on top of the market demands and be technologically savvy because much of the business is going to depend on how fast you can produce a single product.

On the other hand you are going to find out that beekeeping isn’t even like that because if you expect to make a profit you would have had to have been in the business for a long time and following the trends on the beekeeping market demands are for that time. And if you don’t have a website in today’s world consider yourself a fossil in the area of business because that’s your only link to the rest of the world by having a website or even a page.

Most of the companies today are commercialized because the small businesses today are just not equipped to handle the mass production of honey and small businesses won’t make a lot giving the fact you are paid by the pound and the average amount after weighing the whole season isn’t a whole lot. Commercial beekeepers average a couple thousand pounds, but farmers have to really push production if they want to average at least $15-30 a year.

This is a competitive field to be selling honey and producing beeswax products since the beekeeping industry doesn’t function as a co-op like many organic farmers do. In this day and age where they work together beekeeping is sub-contract work and many of these small businesses are sub-contracted by these major proportions to produce honey under their label and their food line.

It may sound good to be subcontracting and all, but you are also competing for these contracts as well with other small businesses and they are very high risks that you lose your contracts if there honey buying companies that hire you aren’t happy for what ever reason with something it could be anything like the quality of the product.

That’s why this is a risky business to get involved with because the outcome is unknown and how the market will fair during the season since this is what a beekeeper bases their financial output by which is how much they need to anticipate on in all seasons.

Beekeepers almost have to base their financial gain through good weather and season with the market demand, but you can’t always predict good weather, which is what many worry about. They have more to worry about than crop farmers since they can make the difference when they get rain and lower climate suitable to the food they’re growing.

Beekeeping is dependent on the activity of the bees and how well they produce honey since bees produce in certain climates and temperatures. You should understand that in order to strive in this business a lot of serious work has to be done and time investing for this business to work in the long run.

If you sure are ready to start beekeeping as a hobby, business, or study, then you will have thought about the needed hives and the equipment, which means your next step is to get your bees, which to some people is confusing, because they are lots of ways to get them.

-Purchase a Colony-

Colonies can be purchased from local beekeepers or beekeeping product suppliers. If you are a real beginner, this maybe the ideal way to getting your honey bees, although it is also the most expensive way. The colony will contain a queen, workers, drones, and frames of honeycomb with brood. Some even contain honey to feed the bees.

-Purchasing a Nucleus-

When you purchase a hive nucleus, you are given a queen and a few frames of worker bees with a small foundation. You will be given 5 frames, which is a good start for your hive, but is a bit slower than if you purchase the whole colony.

-The Package-

This can also be purchased from a local beekeeper or breeder. It will have a queen and about three pounds of worker bees only. This means you will need to feed the bees with some type of syrup until they feel comfortable to work for themselves.

-The Swarm-

This is probably the most economical way of getting your bees, but is very risky, and very hard. This method requires you to get your very own swarm. As a beginner this is not the best option because you don’t really know how they will react, or whether they have been Africanized, or not. Some swarms do carry diseases, or even mites, and can course problems for a beginner.

-When Should You Acquire Your Bees?-

April or May is the right time to start your hive. If you will consider purchasing them, order them in advice, to be delivered in the spring. When you buy bees later than June, then you risk them not having enough time to make enough honey for their winter and thus surviving. This meaning that the bees will be lost and the money you invested as well.

-The Money Needed-

Once you get used to beekeeping then you need to do your research as to the cost of bees. This way you can prepare a budget. Generally speaking your start up may run from about $500.00 to over $1,000.00 depending on the bees you buy and the hives you purchase.

-What to Expect?-

You shouldn’t expect to make your money back on that first year’s investment. It is going to take a while for a colony to get big and to build up its strength, and even then not every beekeeper is successful in a year. Sometimes it maybe natural, so don’t be afraid in starting all over again, if you lose the bees. You just have to chuck it up to a learning experience.

Some specific principles need to be known when you start a new honey bee keeping project either for business or as a hobby. These are the principles that will let you get the highest profit out of your bee project. The principles of how to raise honeybees are structured around the bees themselves.

1. The first critical point in your project in choosing the bees, research has to be done on the different type of bees and the right type of bees good for your area. The best way to do this is to ask the local beekeepers in your area. They can tell you through their experience which type is right for you.

2. You put your bees in the hive and honey is formed there as well. Choosing the hive depends on the type of bees, the area you live, the amount of time you are willing to invest and the money you are willing to spend.

Generally bee hives are made from specific types of wood like cedar wood and pine wood; both of these types have a distinct smell, especially cedar wood which can impact the honey aroma. To choose the hive type depends on your experience on beekeeping, when starting out on beekeeping you may choose a hive that needs less maintenance even if it will cost them more.

3. The location of your hive is very important; it should be in an open area but away from strong air drafts. You should also have near by green fields so bees get their nector. If plantations are located between the hives then you must make sure that the plant insecticides used in the area will not harm your bees.

If you are considering raising bees as a hobby or as a part time business, here’s a quick beginners guide to keeping bees because there are things you should know before you start.

You will have to spend some money in the start-up of beekeeping, but before you start investing money, you might want contact beekeepers in your area, as a rule, they will more than happy to share their experience with you and help you in getting the right bee equipment for your area.

The Right Cloths and Equipment Used

One of the most important pieces of clothing a beekeeper wears is the veil. Bee stings on the face can be very painful and can damage the eyes and ears.

Wear white or light colored coveralls. If you are not using boots, don’t wear dark socks. Boots that fasten over the coveralls or in the coveralls should be worn. A wind breaker jacket will help you to avoid being stung. Pants, veil, sleeves should be fasten securely so that the bees don’t get in the clothes.

You first need one bee hive, and a good place to get one is your local store or beekeeping society’s from your area.

You can buy this equipment new or used. If it is used you will want to make sure it is in good condition, also have it examined by the Apiary Inspection Service for any possibility of disease. The normal price for beekeeping equipment is $250-$450.

You could build your own hives, which is not difficult at all, if you have the time, but make sure your dimensions are correct because bees will build combs where you least want them.

Getting the Bees

There are several ways to acquire bees, no matter which method you choose the right time to buy bees is spring, established colonies will cost you more, but they can be worth the extra money.

Package bees

The package of bees consists of 2 or 3 pounds of bees with the queen bee in a different cage (Beginners should be able to handle them easily)

The Queen Bee

The most common practice of introducing a new queen requires an introductory period of about three days, the queen is placed in a cage and is fed by the colony bees though the wire gauze covering the cage. The only way she is let go is by the worker bees eating a candy entrance or the beekeeper can decide to release the queen into the colony manually.

The success of the colony depends largely on the quality of the queen. As a beekeeper you may notice a difference in the production of honey from one colony to the next. The difference in production can depend on several factors, one of which is the queen.

It is obvious that guide is just a quick look at what’s required, my advice is to do your homework before you start purchasing equipment, get all the information so you can make an informed decision as to whether raising bees is right for you.

A lot of people don’t know how to start beekeeping, and which is the reason you are here on this page. As you know beekeeping is very exciting activity. It is enjoyable and you can enjoy tasty, natural honey.

And you don’t need to make a huge investment. You can even make money with beekeeping and start your very own beekeeping business.

So what should i know and where to start?

Obliviously you need to know seasonal cycles. It’s very important to carefully plan the time. Flowering of plants and nectar flow depends of seasonal change in weather patterns. So make you know you’re regions seasonal cycles.

The second thing to know is the bee hive. There are many hives out there such as simple package hives, fixed-comb hive, movable hives, and many more.

Next step is to select appropriate location of your hives or hives if you have more then one. Make sure you protect it from insects such as ants and toads by setting up hives on stands and cutting of grass and weeds. If you are putting more than one hive, make sure you spread them apart because this can confuse bees. And this may lead to easy spreading of diseases.

Next step is to get proper equipment. You will need beekeeping gear and especially veil, it should cover full face and neck, which can be made of plastic screen of mosquito nets or metal screen or you can use nylon mesh. Also smoker is very useful to control bees.

The last step is getting the honey bees. You can get honey bees from other beekeepers, or search them in local outlets. Place bees in hives and let them build a colony and wait for honey. The bees will then start producing honey, natural honey! Also if you want sell it to make profit.

If anyone wants to start a business raising bees, an important fact to remember is that lots of hard work is required and is not that easy to maintain, especially if profits have to be made. Doing it as a hobby may not need as much of an effort as when it is one’s livelihood and more time is needed.

More money would be invested in beekeeping as a livelihood than if it was just a hobby and if you done this then you definitely need to get your money back. Good quantity is not only needed of produce from the beehives, top quality is needed as well so that you can get good sales. Make sure you also have the latest beekeeping equipment and are up to date with technology to make sure that his produce of honey is the best in every way.

A lot of beekeeping have been in this business for quiet some time and are up to date with the latest trends. They also have a website which advertises their goods and gets them a lot more customers. If you don’t own a business website then the number of your customers will be very limited as you won’t be able to spread the word about your farm products to others apart from those who stay in your locality.

Beekeeping is a competitive business

When compared to commercial beekeepers the small business beekeepers have a tough time competing. It takes a lot of effort to produce even a small quantity of honey and if the technology and equipment is not the latest in the market then you will produce at a even lower rate and the hard work profit will be negligible at the end of the day.

To make the smaller beekeepers remain in business the commercial ones usually use the situation for their own benefit and buy up or sub contract the produce of the smaller business’s and add it on to their own. Other agricultural businesses have co operative societies but bee keeping does not have any such way of helping the smaller beekeepers. However, by subcontracting the smaller beekeepers this is beneficial to both parties.

Those Sub Contractors

Though subcontracting may sound like a very good idea it is not all that secure as the company that is subcontracting you could suddenly back off if they are not happy with the products or for some other known reason. So this could run out to be a risky affair because the outcome is not known and how the season will treat your products.

Beekeepers have to worry about their financial gain and keep wondering whether the market demand would be worth while or not in the future. There produce is not as dependable as a farmer who knows what his farm will give him if the climate is suitable and the weather good for his harvest.

When you are in the beekeeping business you have to depend on the activities of the bees and their production. This also depends on the climates which have to be good for the bees.

Knowing how to choose the best tennis racket is half the job done in a game of tennis. For as much as your skill, having the right or wrong racket also contribute to your performance in the court. Standard guidelines for using rackets vary according to age but factors such as physical stature and strength also matters in choosing the right racket.

Tennis rackets were earlier made using wooden materials and strings made of various animal guts as they were expected to be strong enough to hold the strength of the string and therefore, not very convenient to handle as you play. However, these days, besides woods, other materials are used to improve stiffness and durability.

In principle, there are three types of tennis racket such as Power or Game Improvement Rackets, Tweener Rackets, and Control or Player Rackets. Besides, due to the importance of shapes, length, and weight in deciding the efficiency, rackets are also made available in customizable form so that you may configure according to your needs and skills.

Tennis racket comes in three main categories namely, Game Improvement Rackets; Tweener Rackets; and Control or Player Rackets. In addition, depending on one’s own needs they can even be customized at various lengths, sizes, and weight.

Tennis rackets used by players who have shorter or slower swings are categorized under the Game Improvement tennis racket type, and these rackets are designed in such a way that they provide powerful hit and capacity to withstand receipt of powerful hit as well. This type of rackets basically has oversized head, light-weighted, and stiff; and they are crafted for players who are at the beginner’s stage- not much abreast yet with the techniques and forms of the game.

The third in the categories is the Control or Players tennis rackets, which focus on professional players. They are somewhat weighty, smaller, have balanced head, and are thinly beamed. The advantage of this type is that the smaller and balanced head of the rackets facilitate easy maneuverability and handling of the racket. Since they are smaller, they are not very powerful. And the reason also being that the players are supposed to provide the power required for an efficient stroke.

As an experienced player, it may not be difficult to have enough feel of the rackets to be able to conduct a meaningful performance. But beginners may not have the idea of the length and size of rackets.

As seen above, tennis rackets are available in various shapes, sizes, lengths, weights, and stringing patterns. Therefore, to narrow down your choices; you need to know exactly what length or head size will do for you. There are different lengths of the rackets ranging from 27 inches all the way up to 32 inches. So choose the one that’s appropriate for your stroking style and your physical stature, and your skills.

If you are just getting started with the tennis sport, you should look for a tennis racket length that you can handle comfortably. This will ensure effective weight transfer from your body, and this in turn will help you develop balanced strokes. If you choose a racket that is too short or small, it will result in excessively straining your wrist and elbow action, then finally affecting your strokes and arm in the long run.