Can you make a living by keeping bees?

Question

if so, HOW (please explain in detail ;o)!

cheers

Answer 1

I guess people have made a living at it.  I have a friend who is a beekeeper - this is NOT her main source of income.  She lost half of her hive due to bad weather.  Harvesting the honey is tricky work.  If you cook it too long it will get too dark and isn't as attractive.  I wouldn't recommend it for a career.

Answer 2

yes if you have the right resources, also depends on the area you live in and what kind of flowers and plants are in your area, also if you have a client base to buy your honey after you have processed it. a lot of hard work, hope you are up for it

Answer 3

Yes, there are professional beekeepers.  Most of them hire out services for pollination of crops, including orchards, and are migratory (follow the blossom season from one location to another).  You'll need a lot of money to get started with equipment such as fork lifts, hives, trucks, extraction and packing equipment, starter packages, and labor help.  In the first year or two, you will be simply building your "herd" and getting contracts, so don't expect to make much money (i.e., more expenses without offsetting income).

With the problems bees are having now with Colony Collapse  and parasites, it'd suggest you think twice about it.  Hire on with one of these companies and see how you like it.

Answer 4

It's possible, especially with value-added products and renting bees out for pollination services, but I suspect it's getting a lot trickier with Colony Collapse Disorder, etc. Some people are starting to switch to alternative pollinators like orchard mason bees instead, but I don't know anything about how financially viable breeding those is.

Here's one company that does it: http://www.knoxcellars.com/

and some related info:

http://ww2.attra.ncat.org/index.php/nati...

http://pollinator.com/

http://www.xerces.org/Pollinator_Insect_...

Answer 5

You can but idd suggest you grow your own veggies and fruit and stuff and have chickens.....