Did I Make a BIG MISTAKE Getting BEES?!

In this video, I explain how I was unsure if I should get bees and why I finally got them anyway. Have I made a big hummer of a mistake getting bees? Plus, we do our first-ever bee hive inspection, which was quite a buzz for someone like me who has never handled honey bees before!
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#beekeeping #bees #gardening

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Everyone! So I got some bees... The ones that sting. Some might say a bit "bee-lated" but I think the timing is about right, well, we'll see how they go. Thanks for your support! Cheers :)

[@hankventurez]

Next should be mason bees. Actually requires almost no work and no stingers.

[@huggy-Bear]

Mark bee-hive yourself please!

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

You’ll be an excellent 🐝… Honey Daddy! 🍯 You’ll never be stung if you maintain your ‘humble’ and calm self! You can hear it in their ‘bumble’ when they’re agitated!! 😜 Whatever you do, DONT stop, drop and roll! Ouchy…🤭✌️🐝

[@VeysPlace]

I know what you can name the Queen. Bee Sufficient. LOL.

[@yugmartreb7722]

Hope you enjoy this wonderful experience. SSM garden will be really pumping in spring..

[@JefesGarden]

I am a gardener and veteran, too. I come here mostly for the dad jokes. 😁 Bee well, Mark!

[@GoAwayNow-iz3du]

Then punch yourself. Dad jokes are a boil on the anus of humanity.

[@emwhaibee]

bzzz bzzzz (aha 😅) 🐝

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Ugh, dad jokes. Can you please just let them bee?

[@JefesGarden]

@@HomeStudioBasics Hive got a bunch of 'em.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@JefesGarden Seriously dude, buzz off. 😂

[@shadowlessxpan]

So glad to see you keeping bees! My vote is to name the Queen “Beeatrice” 👑 🐝

[@phullyloadid07]

Great idea, I didn’t see your comment or I wouldn’t have posted the same thing 4 days later 😅

[@bronhaller]

It's the only name for a Queen Bea, really!

[@thewaxingmoonlotus]

had the same idea lol

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

Kinda late now, but Dot would be an obvious name.

[@jaytango3594]

Queen B

[@lynsoeder7422]

I am a beekeeper in the mountains of NC, US. Congratulations! You will love this adventure! Yes, it's a lot of work and a lot to learn, but so worth the effort. Best of luck.

[@user-je1wx1ow1m]

BEEYONCE is a name for the Queen. 👑

[@kurisute]

Mark, you have such a great attitude as a student. Thank you for getting kind and funny while being uncomfortable! 🐝

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks Christi! I was so petrified of dropping one of those frames, but thankfully I had a good teacher. Cheers :)

[@TheDavebala]

​@@SelfsufficientmeThe introduction of yourself to the hive was spot on. 😂👌 Self-sufficient Bee" has a ring to it. ❤

[@tubeta028]

Hello Mark, very proud of you for becoming a bee keeper, I am looking forward for your first video on teaching me how to keep and look after bees and bee flowers. By the way I would like to suggest a name of your first queen bee 🐝 if you haven't get one. Here it is: Queen Momi - Momi is an island word meaning my favourite. It pronounced mo-me.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I had my own "Was this a mistake?" moment when I installed my first nucleus hive in 2021 and was surrounded by a cloud of buzzing when I'd handled bees exactly twice before that ... My hives are at my mom's place and she had so much fun helping me that the next year she ordered two nucs herself even though neither of my first hives made it through spring (moisture issues), so we went into last winter with 4 hives and now we have 8 after making two splits and catching two swarms! I wear my full bee suit every time and I even tape the velcro flaps in case some industrious lady decides to go exploring, I DO NOT want a bee in my bonnet. I wear a pair of thin gardening gloves underneath a pair of dish gloves (I have weird hands and leather gloves don't give me enough ability to feel what I'm doing but I can actually find garden gloves that fit well and the dish gloves are a bit of extra protection and also keep my gardening gloves from getting all sticky) and mom's bratty hive left a bunch of stingers in my glove as a reminder to move more slowly. We do bee stuff about one day a week. I got my first sting last year and by the time I got my suit off I coudln't even find it, and got another sting when I wasn't suited up and that one left me a red mark for about a week, just feels like getting stuck with a sewing needle and I'm lucky I don't seem to get any swelling or itching at all so far. The first sting was actually kind of a relief because I'd only ever been stung by a wasp and a yellowjacket before this and those were pretty awful, by comparison a honey bee sting isn't bad at all for me. You might want to get a frame grabber if you feel your fingers are too fat, they're not great for manipulating the frames but sometimes they're really great for getting them out of the hive when you can't get your fingers in. We use the deep hives for brood but we've switched to only having a deep as the bottom box and we put mediums on top of it for both additional brood as well as honey because I can lift a medium full of honey but a deep is too heavy for when we need to get into the bottom box.

[@johnwatkins7322]

Great share! One trick I have found with Bee stings (we have many bees and Mozzies in Florida) putting meat tenderizer and a bit of water or spit to make a paste on the sting helps neutralize the venom and histamine reaction. Any other tricks from anyone else?

[@HoneyMarketingBoard]

Congratulations Mark and welcome to the club. And don't worry, the bee's will teach you all you need to know.

[@johnlord8337]

When you do hive inspection with your smoker - if you also add in lemon balm essential oil - sweet and fragrant - the bees will calm down even more. If you put some small drops of lemon balm oil at the entrance - the hive airflow will aromatize the hive with the lemon balm. Bees love lemon balm (mint). It is an antiseptic, and the bees will bring it inside and use it in all of their sanitary and hygiene activities. If you would have a first time hive, then spritizing the hive and boards with lemon balm oil - an antiseptic and antibacterial - bees will readily run into the hive (like a hospital smell for them) if you have swarms. Lemon balm aroma also stops or slows down infiltration by wax moths, hive beetles, and the throat choker mites that plague honey bees. Lemon balm, like modern orange oil treatments of houses infested with ants, termites, earwigs, silverfish, cockroaches etc ... will choke them out, like smoke of a fireplace chases away mosquitoes. They can't breathe, and the smoke interferes with their hormonal communications - so they remain calm and not anxious or hostile.

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

Oh… I forgot to mention, it cost us a fortune to hire a professional Pest Control Co. and we’ve still got the termites! I ended up using clove oil drops at the house ant 🐜 holes and they’ve never come back!!😏 Good riddance AND I don’t have to feel guilty…they didn’t die, they moved! 😜

[@willieadams7930]

Thanks for the info

[@nannygranny9534]

Thanks for sharing that. I have hives and dud not know that.

[@ds3356]

Limonene is also responsible for a relaxing effect in marijuana

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

@@ds3356 lemon, lime and sandalwood are my favourite scents of all! Also I love the different flavours that different regions impart in each honey that’s local to the area that the hive is in! I’ve recently learned that if you consume honey that’s locally produced by your local bees, it increases your immunity against your local allergy pollens in your area, and can also have distinctive flavours of distinctive flora growing around you! How wonderful would it ‘bee’ 🐝 to taste lemon 🍋 in your honey 🍯??

[@JensOdense]

It's refreshing to see an adult, who has got such a good attitude when it comes to learning. And it was a pleasure to learn with you as a result, good video :)

[@ebw78756]

Oh, Mark, you are going to LOVE - LOVE - LOVE having bees!!! They are the gentlest of creatures. And you are going to be amazed at the increased production in your garden. Congratulations, Brother..

[@domscrocca5301]

You looked somewhat nervous!! Hahah "Beetrice" is an idea! Ive had a hive for nearly 3 years now and doesn't take up much time at all. In fact its great seeing them doing their thing throughout our garden. Enjoy them Mark. They are a wonderful gift from mother nature.

[@amypatterson-bocchi2514]

Yes! Perfect. Beetrice. Love it.

[@amichan5]

My grandfather had a 3-4 beehives at a time. He was making them himself, left some sugar syrup inside, and bees were coming by themselves to live there. Let me tell you that the taste of fresh honey just from the wax is one of my best childhood memories

[@amberl2639]

Congrats on the bees, Mark. I think you should name the queen BEEtrice! 🤣

[@Selfsufficientme]

That's two BEEtrice's so far! Thanks Amber :)

[@jasenanderson8534]

Haha that's what I was going to suggest.

[@LandoftheSarah]

Hey I’m make that three! I just put that down!

[@MAYHEMSCO]

Same came to the comments after he said he wants name suggestions and instantly saw Beeatrice:)

[@tonicodner6189]

When I started bee keeping, I studied and learned as much as I could for at least two years before I actually got bees, and I started with a flow hive. I love the product. Believe me, Mark. I was very scared as well as being allergic to bees. But I had no choice but to learn as i was in the deep end with little or no help(my own fault) I live in the Hunter Valley and have just lost my hives in the last few weeks and after three years of enjoying them, learning every time i did a hive check, loving the moods of my girls, hive beetles loss of a hive, wax mothe loss of a hive, going from no honey in the super to completely full in just six weeks and now I miss the buzz in the garden so much. I kept my hives in the chook pen because the chooks love the hive beetles like candy, and they don't bother the bees at all. So have fun learning and trust me they will become addictive.

[@colonagray2454]

Parden my American word use but is that chicken? I never concidered it being a safe haven. Neeto! My grandmothers family farm always had the girls keep the bees even though most of them were alergic. Your a special breed of mad my friend! I want bees but my wife is way too terrified.

[@ritasaragosa3829]

You say you started with a flow hive,so if you don't mind me asking,do you have a different preference of brand or do you still suggest it for beginners? I'm thinking of purchasing something of the like. Thank you ❇️🐦🌺🌿🐝🐞🪲🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@denisea3465]

We got bees 7 years ago and I thought what am I doing? I'm terrified of them and afraid they would be stinging my young kids in the small yard all the time. But i quickly realized I love them and don't regret it for a minute! We started with two and are up to five hives, we have no room for more! Last year we got 120kg of honey and still have about 85kg in our basement. You will be really happy when you see the difference in pollination. Our fruit trees and berries especially flourished, and our neighbors' as well! Its incredible. No one in the family has ever been stung by them, and our chickens LOVE getting treats from the drone comb we have to cut out!

[@keeponsingin247]

Greetings from the USA! We love your helpful videos! I think you should name your queen bee BEEatrice

[@Selfsufficientme]

"BEEatrice" Nice one, Rhonda, thank you!

[@Whimspiration]

I was scrolling through the comments to see of BEEatrice had been mentioned yet, as it was my first thought too. 😅

[@Dalavine]

Dang I looked before commenting and said the same thing 😅

[@SlippyDude]

14:59 "So you've given me a pretty nice hive, that's already had a sh**... heap of honey in it." Made me laugh so much. Were you about to say a "shit ton of honey?" 😂😂😂

[@christinechapman9764]

I love that you greet your local birds. I've never seen anyone do that, apart from me. I particularly pay respects to our iconic Australian Magpies, and I've never been swooped by one in my life.

[@learoser1339]

Christine how lovely. I also greet the local birds and lizards and the neighbours goats as well as my chooks. Have conversations with them as well and like you I have never been swooped by the Magpies. A kindred spirit.❤

[@mrsb33]

That’s so funny! I say good morning, Robin and good Mourning, Dove!

[@_Myriad_]

Oh i do this too! Magpies and we have a lot of crows where i am too so i always make sure they know im a friend just passing through and mean them or their nests no harm 😇 some of them are cautious to watch me as i pass by but ive never been swooped either and the younger ones quickly learn im not an agressor to them. I think some of them only watch me because i wear a lot of shiny metal accessories on my clothes haha

[@christinechapman9764]

@@_Myriad_ I'm so glad to hear that many people also love and respect our wild neighbors. I have heard that research has shown that these birds have good facial recognition of humans and can remember an individual for many years, I do believe this could be true.

[@hevvab8151]

I am also a Magpie greeter. So much so that I now have a permanent family of 5 that wake me up every morning with some beautiful song outside my bedroom window; I'd like to think not just for the food I give them! lol. Love my Maggies; have dubbed one of my newest ones "Havachat" - coz that's what she does!

[@lukehoagland1394]

I have learned tons from you! Thank you for sharing all your trials and tribulations! I vote Dottie for the queen’s name :) 🐝

[@yacobshelelshaddai4543]

Haha yes I second that! Dottie! Great name

[@Tom-en9tc]

I'm bee-lighted to see you going on this adventure! Can't wait to see you harvest the first yield of honey

[@Selfsufficientme]

LOL...👍

[@aussietrek]

What about “BEEYONCE” the name of your Queen bee.😁

[@lelleithmurray235]

THE Queen Bee!!

[@scottroberts5492]

Got my first bees at 13 (35 years ago), they are very interesting and neat to keep, hope you enjoy!! Looking forward to watching your adventures with them.

[@hollyknowles5936]

Good morning, Mark. You are a brave man to become a bee keeper. I respect bees, but they frighten me. Being educated on them may help. Anyway, I was thinking of the name Queen Dot or Queen Tausend (German) for the many eggs she lays per day.😂 Thank you for the gardening tips. I'm grateful to have come across your channel a year ago. Happy bee keeping😅!

[@pondimek]

Hey Mark, I got into bees 3 years ago and haven't looked back. If you're concerned or time-poor, you could get someone from your local club to manage the hive for you. You'll have bees, receive honey and the benefits of pollination and likely for no cost. Looks like Peter will be a very handy person to have around! I noticed in your video that the hive looks to be in quite a dark location. Full sunshine is best to help reduce the impact of a pest called small hive beetle which can destroy weak hives. Full sun also makes it much easier to inspect the frames in your hive when you do inspections as you can see better into the cells. Beekeeping is a fantastic hobby and very rewarding, however, it does demand some time and some serious compliance responsibilities (Biosecurity obligations). I hope you enjoy having your bees!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks for the advice Keith! The hive location is in a sparsely treed area and will get enough sun (especially through summer here in the subtropics) but I will keep an eye on it. Cheers :)

[@pondimek]

@Selfsufficientme I'm on the Gold Coast, so know how our summers can be (and hive beetle infestations). We're in the perfect region for beekeeping with hot summers and mild, short winters. All the best with it!

[@vivhall6198]

Queen Esmerelda😊

[@poodlepup1]

Hi Mark... well done you for going the extra length and having these life giving little ladies in your life... I find that bees are one of mother natures wonders terrific to watch and so much we do not know about.. and the gentleman that was showing you great knowledge and loved his nature around them... ... we humans on this planet do not realise that without these little workers we would not have all the food we do....

[@captainreggae99]

Life is an adventure full of new experiences and familiar ones. It's such a privilege to share in your joy, to see you taking on another element of self sufficiency. We never stop learning, do we?

[@El2ocm]

I think you could call the queen Bee-yonce!

[@loupi4bama]

I have my first jars of harvested honey from the hives on my property. So exciting. You will bee glad you have them. "Honey" is a great name for a queen bee. 🥰

[@Selfsufficientme]

"Honey" - simple sweet and I like it :)

[@cherylhowker1792]

@@SelfsufficientmeI like it and Bella

[@kanders7391]

Keep a shallow accessible and not slippery water source for the bees to go to for water. The bees from some neighbors hive or wild were always landing and drinking at my concrete bird bath at the house I used to live at, so I would keep fresh clean water in it. They walk to the edge of the water and sip. I’m in California which is a dry area like Australia. If the water source is slippery and steep, they may slip and end up in the water.

[@jamskinner]

California is dry? Maybe parts of it but it is fairly wet by western state standards.

[@puggirl415]

In my community garden we have bird baths and other water sources with corks floating in them for the bees to land on and sip the water without it being slippery at all.

[@ogadlogadl490]

Tell those guys to 🐝 careful near the water.

[@A_nony_mous]

The area where Mark is located is sub-tropical, the climate is more like Florida than California although not precisely like either.

[@rickysens597]

Watching from Saskatchewan, we use a plastic chicken water dispenser.....then add small rocks and stones in the tray so the bees have something to stand on and not fall in and drown

[@justineg2121]

Relax. You got this. Bees are easy to look after (they’re pretty self-sufficient). Just keep chatting with Peter. You’ll get it. The bees will get to know you and you’ll get to know them. Then, you’ll find yourself chatting with them when you’re in the garden. Queen Bee. Queenie

[@Golden_SnowFlake]

I'm glad to see the difference of a beekeeper, and a new beekeeper.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We have had our bees for a good decade and they bring so much to the property, with pollination and honey. I hope you come to enjoy them Mark. But its definitely a learning exercise when you get them 😀

[@karlleggett110]

Good onya Mark… in short time you will realize how great a decision this was.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks Karl! I'm sure you are right mate! Cheers :)

[@fishmut]

Well done Mark , bee keeping is self sufficient, now you will be able to have your own honey as well providing bees for pollinating the flora in the area plus you are helping the bees , they have a very hard time in the wild so caring for them is very fascinating, your adventure has only just started , have fun , I think you will be hooked once you get going and learn more . 👍you tube is your friend as you know lol heaps of bee keeping videos at your disposal bud , bee careful, it’s addictive. 😁

[@nikigores8774]

Congratulations Mike for being open and trying out to be a beekeeper! It’s one of the most amazing and enchanting endeavors you’ll ever experience. The bees are both magical and highly intelligent. The more you learn about them, the more addicted you’ll be. They’ll never disappoint so raise your glass and cheer! 🎉🥳🙌🐝🐝🐝

[@nikigores8774]

Sorry Mark, my error in addressing Mike stands corrected.

[@sickcat-nu4ci]

Haha, ive always thought bees were truly magical and youre the first other person ive ever heard talk about them in the same way. I always thought they were like real life fairies, thats truly how i see them :) Like, think about all the underappreciated value, beauty and wonder bees provide to all life on this planet. Theyre so important!!! Magic little sweethearts!

[@A_nony_mous]

@@nikigores8774 You can edit your original comment without losing it.

[@18Bees]

Hey brother I’ve been following you for years. Try a log beehive too 🙏 ❤

[@FM-uk8rs]

That is what i would like , a Kenyan top bar !

[@18Bees]

@@FM-uk8rs haven’t tried that one yet but will.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks for your support! Little steps at a time, but a log beehive does sound intriguing and something I'd bee into trying. Cheers :)

[@reader649]

Congratulations Mark on getting into beekeeping.👍 That was fascinating. Peter is a wonderful teacher and very knowledgeable and confident around these bees.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks Julius! It sure is fascinating and I appreciate the feedback. Peter definitely has a gift for teaching and keeping me calm under pressure lol... Cheers :)

[@hairyscary8511]

The great thing about you Mark is you don't pretend to bee a know it all so we all learn together👍🏻

[@janet6421]

I have 4 hives. I haven't done anything with them since November. They are doing fine and I harvested a few pints of honey earlier today. It takes effort to get maximum honey production but very little to keep them alive and pollinating your garden. Talk to your local beekeeping group and ask them what you need to look out for in your area. And in large friendly letters, "DON'T PANIC" 😀

[@skittlesrainbowprincess]

As someone with a bee 🐝 allergy I'm glad it's you... Always wanted to help the bees but too afraid to keep em

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

Catch 22! 🤭✌️ I feel for you…and for bees! 🐝 🌸🌷🌸

[@skittlesrainbowprincess]

@Jay Khan thank you but I don't live in an area they like

[@andrewthomaswilton3092]

Finally got into it a few months ago, Mark! The hive is growing faster than any around me. Pastures, meadows and woods. Killing it!

[@elisabethlee1969]

How exciting! I'm researching and learning this year and am planning on getting my apiary started next year. I've joined my local beekeeping association and have been reading lots of books. Thank you for introducing us to your bees. I can't wait to see your adventures with those girls!

[@cmappouras]

Hi Mark, you have created a paradise so be sure that you are giving to your bees and they will give you back too! I am also 1,5 month in beekeeping and i I have become addicted to it!😊

[@SD-bf6hk]

I’m so excited for you to share your experience and the knowledge! Thank you for trying this out!!!

[@Campfire_Bandit]

Fantastic video! I've been thinking about adding bees to our homestead for a few years now but the learning curve seems so huge, but with this as a guide I might actually 'buzz into it'!

[@mannbat]

Beeanca seems like a fitting name for a queen bee!

[@debkincaid2891]

Congratulations, Mark. Very exciting!

[@cartoon80s90s]

What a nice surprise. I love bees. I hope you do follow up videos and show us the progress of the hive. As for a name for the queen, consider " Melissanthe ". It is composed of the Greek words for honeybee (melissa) and flower (anthos).

[@kittyr6534]

Ooh I like that suggestion!

[@amypatterson-bocchi2514]

Lovely name suggestion, but a bit of a mouthful.

[@michellesvensson2772]

PG, Patriot Gallery here. I lost my channel. I'm using my daughters. She has been keeping bees for about 8 years. It helped her to join a bee group. Each year you learn more. You make mistakes. A harsh winter here in Ohio means she usually will lose a hive or 2. This year we had an above-average temperature so she kept 4 hives through the winter, someone gave her a hive. A hive swarmed away, but 2 more emerge so she is at 7 and has sold 2 to a friend. You are doing a great thing after the government murdered millions and millions of bees in Australia!

[@vfmnx]

Loved all the bee puns! You did great.

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

Wow! Awesome to see you get out of your comfort zone and educate yourself with something brand new!

[@shelleygoetchius231]

I have tossed he idea of beekeeping around several times. I look forward to more of these videos to either persuade me to get started or to show me its more work than I am willing to put into it. I sure love honey and I use a lot of it. So thanks for taking us on your beekeeping journey!

[@edmartin875]

Home.produced.honey.is.much,.much.better.than.store.bought.honey...

[@honey-bee-farmstead]

Hahahahahaa my first hive inspection had my suit infiltrated by bees and stinging me all over the face and neck 😅 some european bees 🐝 can be savage 😂

[@honey-bee-farmstead]

ALSO biggest bonus is that your place and neighbours place, gardens will be amazing and prolific. All my neighbours loved that my bees did that to their gardens ❤

[@gardengatesopen]

Well, THAT just sounds horrific!! I give you big points for continuing your Bee efforts. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[@honey-bee-farmstead]

@@gardengatesopen yeah it was pretty uncomfortable but I'm lucky I didn't even really swell up, I just adore bees and will always do what I can to try and ensure they thrive

[@Fred-px5xu]

It is amazing mate! You are now a bee keeper.

[@jodurbridge7677]

Great to see a realistic video on first time beekeeping. Your nervousness is totally relatable 😅

[@sunnysmilessunshine4060]

Congrats for stepping out of your comfort zone & giving this a go! Wouldn't surprise me if it becomes a fav. for you. YUMMM, to have your own honey: how cool is that! Looking forward to updates.

[@Ccal488]

You are just the funnest guy, I love your content so much! Such great humor and informative content. ❤

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

You are very brave and I am impressed.

[@Kiwi-Monkeh]

Thumb-bee-lina! Loving your work, Mark! :-)

[@DragonflyenAmber]

That's so cool that you got bees. I've been wanting to do this as well, our little bee friends need us just as much as we need them. I'm sure you will do well at this, it just takes a bit of practice and getting used to them.

[@nysari_]

We'd love to keep hives ourselves someday, so this was a lot of helpful info! Also my queen name suggestion would definitely be Beeatrice

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Tiffany, another BEEtrice... That's 3 so far! Cheers :)

[@laurawhigham8492]

Yeah. Beeatrice was my first choice. But of course, a bee by any other name would bee as sweet 🌸 My best thoughts for her and all her babies. Good luck to you too👍

[@SandiHooper]

Very cool! I hope that with a little time, you will find your new hobby relaxing and soothing as well as fascinating stimulating. It’s so pleasant to spend a little time in their world. Good luck with it! I think you have the right temperament for this.

[@David-mi7jm]

A veritable hum-dinger of an episode, Mark! For your queen's name, how about Beelzebub?

[@MizuMing]

If opening this type of beehive is a bit too much work for you or is time-consuming, you could always try a FLOW beehive. You don't even have to open the hive in order to collect the honey from that system. They have tubes which the honey gets fed into and you can immediately drain it into a glass jar, the size of your choosing. ✌️ 18:23 Queen Bee: Hildee

[@leigh-annh2544]

I’ve got 5 Flow Hives. They help a lot with the harvesting honey, but inspections still have to occur . I sing to my bees in the evening and when I do inspections. It keeps me calm , as it can be scary sometimes. I tell them important stuff about the family and news events. I’m pretty sure they recognise me and on one terrible occasion kept bumping me when I was outdoors. I think they were trying to get me to see that after my inspection the entrance of one hive became closed and bees couldn’t get in or out. A hard lesson as I lost dozens of bees but pay attention if they bump me. Fortunately the hive recovered. Suggestions for names for your Queen Mama….Matilda (Matilda M Darling if you watch her she’ll waltz.)

[@jamskinner]

Flow hives cost too much in my opinion.

[@curtpeterson3780]

Good for you, Mark! Excited for you. I have had bees in my backyard homestead for a year now, and they have been very easy to take care of; just a hive-check every other week (or so), other than that (for the most part) they take care of themselves.

[@dshares]

Can’t wait to see updates on the bee hive!

[@MrsGisawesome]

Im very excited to see you taking this next step in self sufficiency. I live in Perth and our garden is very busy with bees - we had something flowering most months of the year and as I walked around or watered I always chatted to them. I guess it was more about being calm but despite frequently brushing past branches and disturbing bees they were never aggressive or bothered by me. I even held off pruning flowering shrubs in winter as it fed them when 'food' scarce. It sounds odd, but you need to visit every day and say 'hello bees!' 🐝

[@shelviah]

I call all of my queens Little Mama. We had five hives last year and four of those queens swarmed, so now we have nine hives 😅 And that’s how it goes with bee math!

[@leigh-annh2544]

Oh dear, mine are swarmy . When I got to 5 hives I replaced a couple of queens.

[@rpdx3]

Great video! Looking forward to your bee journey. 🎉

[@andrelazarus5391]

i have been waiting for this moment fantastic news , with such a beauful graden the bees will do very well .😍

[@JTull]

I would really love to see you do a comparison between a traditional hive and a flowhive. I remember when that company first started out and they were seeking crowd funding. Now, look at them. I think it’s a great innovation.

[@michaeljoncour4903]

no don't do it , hobbyists don't look after their hive properly[mostly] double the problem with flow hive..

[@LordFraggle]

@@michaeljoncour4903 Started with a flow hive 3 years and it's incredible, I have 5 of them now and all bees are happy and healthy. I get some hobby bee keepers don't look after the hives correctly but the same could be said with any bee keeper that doesn't care about their apiary, not exclusive to flowhives

[@Ed-fs3xq]

hi Mark. I've been watching you for absolutely years. You're maybe my longest standing subscription - albeit throughout various accounts. Your videos are always entertaining and just a pleasure to watch. You come across as a great guy, and when I finally get a house with a garden I will do my best to put into practice many of the things I've learnt from you. Thanks mate. Good on ya!

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Ed, and thanks for your longtime support! All the best when you get a house and garden, but consider growing a few things in containers (if you aren't already). Cheers :)

[@AmandaHayes]

Absolutely fantastic intro! So glad you're back 😊

[@deeoh3708]

Wow, I found this soooo interesting Mark. Thank you for showing us.

[@Not_all_as_it_seems]

Well done Mark!!! As an ameatur bee keeper myself, tbh, you need to be prepared to lose a hive or two, as you learn how to keep bees. Do the courses, watch the multi media vids & learn up! My best advice for a newbee... learn how to trap swarms, therefore replacement of lost colonies is free!! Good luck! ps... When you get a harvest, DO NOT DESTROY THE WAX COMB!! It is worth more than gold to a keeper. You will learn

[@janet6421]

Talk to your local beekeeping group. There are different problems that you need to be aware of in different areas. Learn how to do a hive split. I have found this more effective than catching swarms. Bees are very self sufficient so don't worry too much about neglect. As long as you keep out pests, predators, and properly deal with winter, they will bee fine.

[@Not_all_as_it_seems]

@janet6421 I agree, yet on a budget, catching swarms helps to replace colonies destroyed by Varroa. Maybe not such a rampant issue in Australia, yet they have now turned up. It is only a matter of time. In my country (nz), Varroa is an ever-present issue.

[@janet6421]

@@Not_all_as_it_seems Dealing with varroa: Dusting your bees with powdered sugar to encourage the bees to remove the mites doesn't work. If you use vaporized oxalic acid, it is more effective to do it at night when all the bees are home. Use a red light (bees can't see red light) If you use white light, they will leave the hive and go to the light. There are plenty of videos on KZbin

[@laurab8547]

I look forward to watching your bee keeping journey, Mark. As a small homesteader in Texas, USA, I have thought occasionally about learning how to keep a hive. I need pollinators in my garden, and As a side benefit, would love to be able to harvest honey. Even though you had some initial reservations about keeping bees, I am fully confident that you will do a great job learning about your new pastime. Please keep the bee videos coming!

[@edmartin875]

InTexas.we.have.to.watch.carefully.for.Africanized.bees.with.each.queen.change.unless.you.installed.an.bred.northern.queen...

[@rickwarner516]

Congratulations to you and your bees Mark. A life time of joy 👍🏽❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@karenvastarelli1789]

Congratulations on your new bees. I’m thinking Queen Beetrice. Wishing you much honey and even more enjoyment.

[@evak6162]

Since I have a high allergic reaction to bee stings, I can't keep them but I'm super happy that you are giving it a go. Suggestion for the queen's name "ThumBEElina" :) Cheers from Maryland, USA!

[@Gamingcommunity69]

you can still keep bees in australia we havd nativd stingless bees! check them out

[@JustAddMoreButter]

Great video Mark!! If later on down the road you decide you want a more hands free beehive, consider looking into getting a "Flow Hive". It's a great beginner way to start bee keeping. 🍯

[@joatmofa0405]

I've BEEn considering Flow Hive for some time now - perhaps now is the time.

[@mtate02]

I heard there is a problem if the honey "candy's" in the frame. Difficult to clean/fix

[@JustAddMoreButter]

@@mtate02 That's interesting, I wonder if that has to do with weather/location. I can see that happening in colder climates, perhaps. I honestly don't know myself. I haven't taken the honey bee plunge myself, but I've really wanted to! I think a flow hive would BEE a great way to get my feet wet, at the very least. We'll have to see.

[@JustAddMoreButter]

@@joatmofa0405 Me too, but haven't pulled the trigger. I don't really know what I'm waiting for, lol to BEE honest.

[@heatheryarbrough5255]

Really great video. Thanks. It is amazing how good I feel after a day in the garden.

[@ezeqielcastillo849]

Good for you my friend. I remember few months ago that I told you to get some bee's.

[@Miluielle]

So inspiring and informative! The husband and I went to a beekeeping course a couple of years back and sadly learnt a whole lot less than what this video showed (we spent 80 percent of the day with them talking about legislation and burning bees to death because of disease and the last ten minutes at the actual hive watching from a distance as a group) It put it us off to be frank, I'll be interested to see how you go - we both watched the video and we might reconsider it.

[@kiqueenbees]

Just remember, PHEB. Pollen, Honey,Eggs,Brood. That is what you look for.

[@kturkey6273]

You should totally name the queen bee something punny: bee-atrice, bee-yonce, bee-atrix, bee-gonia, cardi-bee ❤😂

[@kathcon2600]

Im so glad you have bees it gives me a desire to have bees

[@joshbeaston6482]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[@shanebep3135]

Her name is Betty🐝🖤🤎🖤🤎🖤🤎🖤🤎🖤🤍

[@branco4979]

Queen Beeyoncé

[@wayneevans3342]

Fantastic video Mark. Absolutely fascinating. Keep going!

[@whytedraegon66]

Well done with your first inspection ;D

[@cassiaspice]

a name or your Queen...... Queen Beelizabeth 1st

[@johnlord8337]

Biggest story first - don't be running your lawn mower or riding mower or weed whacker or leaf blower near their hives - otherwise the (female) flying guards will be in your face jiffy quick !!! So put on your bee suit if you do that - to keep yourself protected.

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

@John…🤭✌️🐝 Yep… and don’t stop, drop and roll…😬🤭

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

Years ago I heard about Orange Oil and Pine Oil in repelling termites, but everyone looked at me as though I’d cracked!! 😮Thank goodness, you know … and said it! p.s… makes me want to watch Hoppity Goes to Town again! 🍯🐝🌾🦗🤭

[@banno5679]

I can't wait to see you create a TON of BEES.

[@Lsmith-ly2cm]

You will do ok with the bees I promise. I have kept bees since about 1985 and still have a few hives. I remember whwn I first started beekeeping years ago I was unsure and a little panicky . I will get better and you will have fun. Enjoy Mark😀Great video thank you.

[@realxistic]

I bee-lieve Mark's picked up a fantastic self sufficient project. Much luck to you on this new journey! And much appreciate your honesty and you sharing your true feelings. Super humbling. 🤞🏾✨

[@borracho-joe7255]

I’m very excited for you. Please keep us posted in this great adventure! Queen Beeelinda.

[@oz-ska-fest4580]

Bee utiful show Mark

[@scud6537]

Yay! Been recently going into beekeeping too!