That's really cool, Lynn. I suggest you get some books to help you identify the weeds,
you don't want to ingest the wrong herb thinking it's good for you..or too much of something that's good for you in small quantities but will kill you in larger amounts (Lilly of the valley comes to mind)
Have you considered bee farming? An apiary would be so neat..
About bee keeping. My DH was a hobby bee keeper for many years when we lived up north. Things to consider before getting into it.
In our neck of the woods (mid-West), verola mites and some viruses were a real problem. DH had to treat his hives every year without fail because if left untreated the bees would die. Bee keepers must stay informed of any new diseases that are imported from other countries and treat appropriately.
Different varieties of bees do better in different parts of the country.
Also, if a potential bee keeper lives in a city setting, are there enough nectar sources (flowers) in that area? Pesticides could be an issue because bees travel up to a mile in a day. Do neighbors spray?
Harvesting honey is a real chore unless you don't mind picking wax out of your teeth. The best way to extract honey from the supers is with an extractor (see expensive) unless you can borrow one. Or it can be extracted the slow way. You heat a knife and cut the wax caps off the supers, turn them upside down and let the honey run out. Slooooow method!
And yes, smoking them helps to keep them calm while a person is working a hive but not always…Sometimes bees get irritated (as in when it's cloudy, or with quick movements). And bee sugar water/candy is necessary for the winter at least in the northern states.
If anyone is truly interested in getting into bee keeping DH recommends contacting an experienced bee keeper to shadow a few times before investing the money to set up bee hives. A local beekeeper can also tell you where to buy your supplies, your hives and your starter kit (queen and attendants). It is also possible to start a new hive when existing hives are getting ready to swarm. Another good source of info is your county extension agent.
And after you've done everything right…you fed them in the winter, you protected them against mice and wax worms and you medicated them…one fine morning in the spring you go to de-winterize your hives and all your bees died sometime during the winter. At least that's what happened to DH's bee hives. He consulted with several other experienced keepers but they never figured out what happened.
Hai Folks!
Been a little slack here recently..... Good to see different faces here, as well as our regular brothers and sisters!
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@markfm - hope your travels are safe and peaceful....
Right back at you Dings. Where have you been? We missed you