Early Honey Bounty in Central Arkansas!

[Munificence]

9. Very Cool

Growing up my parents had bees but I was young and really didn't pay much attention the the "how" of bee keeping but instead simply loved robbing the hive and getting a fresh piece of comb with honey dripping off to chew on.

Today I am fortunate enough to have retired at a young age (43) and want to get "back to the country" and not only raise some bees but likewise goats, chickens, etc and have purchased a small mini-farm. In essence my wife and I decided it was time to sell the 4500 sq ft McMansion and get back to a simpler life from which we came. We are closing on a beautiful country home in 2 weeks on 12 acres.

With this said, I intend to establish at least 2 hives, maybe more once I get back into it some. If you had to provide someone with a link to a website that you feel is one (or two) of the best resources for amateur bee keepers what site(s) would that be?

I have a friend that taps a lot of maples and makes around 100 gallons of syrup a year (he started small then actually turned it into a little business) and I'd kill for the stuff as it is just as good as a natural sweetener as honey.....but I have no maples to speak of on the property I am buying, so it's bees for me.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide or links....and keep up the good work....nothing like consuming "real" food that one raises for themselves and have confidence in knowing you are not getting poisoned.