Bee Keeping

[Sogaard]

Does anyone here keep bees?  If you do, what do you think about that new type of hive that's making such a buzz on social media?  (forgive me, terrible pun) 

 

 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/flow-hive-honey-on-tap-directly-from-your-beehive

[bkln]

That was flipping awesome, any idea how much they will charge for that?

[Doc]

I do have to point out that this whole video finishes off with a plea for donations to help pay for the tooling, etc. In return you will get some unspecified break in the price if and when you decide to buy one.

 

So I am assuming that they are asking for your money, and at some point in time off into the future after they get everything  tooled up and ready to market, you will have the opportunity to buy one at a reduced rate. That is if you can still find them around. I am picturing that inside this thing is a reservoir of honey, and a small pump ...... lol. But it sure does look impressive.

 

I smell a scam!

[growalot]

Doc...I'd have concerns as well...they could just go to "Shark tank" ....lol

[landtracdeerhunter]

We'll isn't this nice, turn a valve in a beehive, and like magic, honey flows right out. All for between $230 & $600.  Just send me your money, and we'll do the rest. No need to worry about shipping charges, we're figure that out later.

 

These people showed run for political office, LOL.

[Dom]

Neat idea and cool concept!I wont be purchasing one of these,however be keeping is a very expensive hobby to get into.1lbs of honey bee's can cost between 100-150 per pound.I do know that 1 standard hive can produce from 50-100 lbs of honey per season.Also need permits to raise bee's.

[landtracdeerhunter]

I'm not even going to bother to voice my opinion here, as it doesn't matter to most of you anyway.

We have a great agricultural college right in our back door yard. Get in touch with them, to see what they think.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Neat idea and cool concept!I wont be purchasing one of these,however be keeping is a very expensive hobby to get into.1lbs of honey bee's can cost between 100-150 per pound.I do know that 1 standard hive can produce from 50-100 lbs of honey per season.Also need permits to raise bee's.

 

Natural swarms cost the price of gas.

Edited March 5, 2015 by landtracdeerhunter

[The_Real_TCIII]

I had a ball of bees on a tree in my yard last year. I called a few bee keepers and nobody wanted to come take them?

[Sogaard]

I do have to point out that this whole video finishes off with a plea for donations to help pay for the tooling, etc. In return you will get some unspecified break in the price if and when you decide to buy one.

 

So I am assuming that they are asking for your money, and at some point in time off into the future after they get everything  tooled up and ready to market, you will have the opportunity to buy one at a reduced rate. That is if you can still find them around. I am picturing that inside this thing is a reservoir of honey, and a small pump ...... lol. But it sure does look impressive.

 

I smell a scam!

 

Doc, what you said is simply untrue.  Did you actually read the information on the site?  Nothing is "unspecified" about it at all.

 

It's not a scam, it's called crowd-funding.  They started out trying to raise $70,000 and have over $4.7 million.  If you look at the page, it tells you specifically what you get for the different levels of donations, or you can just donate any amount if you want to support the cause.  From what I read, for a complete kit including box, tubes, combs, etc, it is $600.  But you don't have to buy the whole thing.  The breakdowns are all listed on the page.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Sogaard

[Sogaard]

Doc...I'd have concerns as well...they could just go to "Shark tank" ....lol

 

Did you see the part where they raised 4.7 million already?  I'm pretty sure they are past the Shark Tank phase.

[Sogaard]

Neat idea and cool concept!I wont be purchasing one of these,however be keeping is a very expensive hobby to get into.1lbs of honey bee's can cost between 100-150 per pound.I do know that 1 standard hive can produce from 50-100 lbs of honey per season.Also need permits to raise bee's.

 

Dom,

 

Can you provide a link that says you need a permit?  I can't find one.  The closest I can find is that if you live in NYC you must register with the Department of Health.  I just found out that since 2010, beekeeping has been allowed within the city limits, so now I'm looking into the feasibility of it.  

Edited March 5, 2015 by Sogaard

[growalot]

No actually I did not... ThoughI just said I have concerns...the "disclaimers" on retooling, possible change in manufacturing source, improvements...I'm a wait and see person...I'll wait and see if down the road........ I see, and those concerns are no longer there...

[Dom]

Dom,

 

Can you provide a link that says you need a permit?  I can't find one.  The closest I can find is that if you live in NYC you must register with the Department of Health.  I just found out that since 2010, beekeeping has been allowed within the city limits, so now I'm looking into the feasibility of it.  

I have no direct link but information can be found under NY Apiary law's.I was going to do this afew years ago this is how I found information

[Sogaard]

I have no direct link but information can be found under NY Apiary law's.I was going to do this afew years ago this is how I found information

 

Well, if you come across it, please let me know.  I assumed there would be some cost, since there are State Inspectors and someone has to pay for them, but I can't seem to find it listed anywhere.  All I keep running across are links to the NYC registration forms.

 

It doesn't help that the state links to http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/and that page is down.

[Dom]

Bee keeping/raising bee in NY.

[landtracdeerhunter]

The permit is for the transportation of bees and bee keeping equipment off your property.  New York Agriculture and Markets require an address so an inspector may check for disease.

[Dom]

The permit is for the transportation of bees and bee keeping equipment off your property.  New York Agriculture and Markets require an address so an inspector may check for disease.

These permit's are not only for transport.Honey Bee's are protected.

[Dom]

Even one that would like to do this as a hobby must register their hive.Yes many bee's carry diseases.

[WNYBuckHunter]

http://www.beesource.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-196570.html

 

Some info I found quickly. A comment in there from a former inspector. Looks like you dont need any permit or anything unless you are transporting or selling broods. I know quite a few people with beehives, and none of them register anything, nor does it cost much for them to produce honey for their own family use.

[Doc]

Doc, what you said is simply untrue.  Did you actually read the information on the site?  Nothing is "unspecified" about it at all.

 

It's not a scam, it's called crowd-funding.  They started out trying to raise $70,000 and have over $4.7 million.  If you look at the page, it tells you specifically what you get for the different levels of donations, or you can just donate any amount if you want to support the cause.  From what I read, for a complete kit including box, tubes, combs, etc, it is $600.  But you don't have to buy the whole thing.  The breakdowns are all listed on the page.

No, all I did was watch the commercial video. The fact that they have been super successful at getting people to send them money only tells me they are real good at what they do. The world is full of people who have become experts at extracting money from people....lol. But unfortunately they'll have to do it without my donation ..... lol. I guess it is just my natural skepticism of these kinds off "send me money" offers.

 

Does anyone actually personally know someone who has participated in this and is happy with the way the thing is actually working? I am simply sending out a bit of caution. These internet offers are not always as good as they sound. The set-up has all the earmarks of a great scam.

[EspressoBuzz]

I've always wanted to keep bees and have many blocks of wood set out as mason bee nests. But I gotta say this looks interesting for when I leave LI for Upstate.

 

Crowd funding is an interesting concept made possible by the internet. Imagine you're Ralph Kramden and you want to manufacter and market your Kitchen Do-All Tool. With crowd funding you put you idea out there in a controlled forum that creates some assurances and investment opportunities. In other words you appeal to all the other Ralph Kramden's in the world with some pocket cash. I have no numbers but there are many tails of those that have paid off.

Edited March 5, 2015 by EspressoBuzz

[Sogaard]

http://www.beesource.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-196570.html

 

Some info I found quickly. A comment in there from a former inspector. Looks like you dont need any permit or anything unless you are transporting or selling broods. I know quite a few people with beehives, and none of them register anything, nor does it cost much for them to produce honey for their own family use.

 

Yeah, that was all I was able to find too.  Although, in NYC limits, you do need to register your hives with the DOHMH (it's only been legal here a few years).

[mike rossi]

I don't like the taste of honey, but I am aware it is expensive. I am not informed about the profit margin of bee keeping, but I do know keepers also "lease" bees to pollinate crops and/or are involved themselves in growing commodities that do not rely on wind pollination. I am sure there is both economic and personal incentives to bee keeping. 

 

So important is the ecological services provided by honey bees in the production of our food supply, that if everyone gave up bee keeping the government would have to do it. 

 

Another interesting thing about honey bees , is that they are NOT a native species. Other bees and other invertebrates pollinate, but the introduced honey bee is very efficient. So the honey bee, along with the ring-necked pheasant, gray partridge, and chukar are all non-native species that are beneficial, rather than deleterious or invasive. Invasive is usually defined as a species that has a negative impact on ecology and/or a negative impact on the economy. The term is also usually reserved for species which are increasing in population size and population distribution. Those species (honey bee, pheasant, partridge, and chukar) do not meet any of those definitions... 

 

As far as "crowd funding", this is going to be another" here we go again topic" which some will claim every person or entity trying to raise funds is running a scam. 

[scolopaxmatt]

I've always wanted to keep bees and have many blocks of wood set out as mason bee nests. But I gotta say this looks interesting for when I leave LI for Upstate.

 

 

Ok.  As a lifelong "north country" resident I'd just like to know something.  Why do so many residents of the southern portion of our state move to our little towns up north?  I'm not picking a fight here, just trying to gain some insight into a phenomenon I've observed.