The Hill Country Veteran Beekeepers met more about bee culture through a free presentation on Saturday, April 20, at the American Legion Hall Post 157 in Bandera.
In addition to the presentation that was free and open to the public, beekeeping equipment will be available to examine at the meeting.
The group was started to help military veterans learn about bees. Army veteran John Fiel and Marine veteran Freeman Bertrand, both experienced beekeepers, led the presentation.
Holmes started slowly into beekeeping. He learned a little through his local mentors, Field and Bertrand, and then started a twelve-month online course through “Hives for Heroes,” which is a national non-profit which focuses on sustainability, conservation, and providing a healthy transition from the service.
This online course can be taken for college credit.
Holmes has been involved with beekeeping for three years.
There are several kinds of bees native to Texas, Holmes received his first swarm for free by removing it from a ranch in Carrizo Springs for a business client.
His hive has hybridized bees, a combo of Africanized bees and native honeybees.
He admits that the group can get a little spicy at times but that they are excellent honey producers.
There are 1100 different native species of bees in Texas. They are the primary pollinators of the plants in Texas. Most are solitary and do not defend their nests, so they are unlikely to sting.
A single bee’s lifespan can be from 40-50 days in summer and up to 120 days in winter.
Conservation and pollination are near and dear to Holmes’ heart. He asserts that frequent rain is necessary to have successful bee yards.
Bees are really in tune with their environment. They can travel up to 7 miles to collect pollen and will navigate back to their hive with no problem.
The area needed to establish hives is minimal according to Holmes. He suggests a 12-foot square area with a gravel or rock surface which is protected from pests and predators is great to start.
The ground should be weeded and grass free. Water should be available nearby. Holmes states that up to 15 hives can be housed in a single bee yard.
The bees gather pollen during the spring and summer months, but it is crucial to feed them during the winter when no pollen is available.
Holmes considers his bees like his children, but since they only live a short period of time, he does not get attached to them.
Holmes likes bees because they are very independent and smart. He says that their focus is simple – collect pollen, store pollen, and raise babies. They also groom and clean their queens.
In order to get into beekeeping, Holmes says that about $250 will purchase a full bee suit. He emphasizes that protection is key when working with bees. A hive box will cost about $250, and bees can be purchased or removed for free.
Holmes estimates that one thousand dollars can get a beginning beekeeper set up with his own hive.
If an individual is interested in collecting honey, more could be needed to purchase an extractor, although Holmes says he sometimes borrows an extractor from other beekeepers.
One of the key things to remember is that in beekeeping there is no right or wrong way to do things, says Holmes.
Holmes jokes that in a room of twenty beekeepers there are twenty different opinions on each topic. He has learned a great many lessons from own yard.
“Each day that you visit your hive you have a problem to solve,” admits Holmes.
Many people are interested in beekeeping to lower their property taxes. With as little as five acres, keeping bees for honey or pollination is considered an agricultural endeavor and can be used to qualify for an exemption.
Many property owners in Bandera County keep bees or allow independent beekeepers to keep hives on their property for this purpose.
For more information, contact Richard Holmes at (210) 800-4346 or richsonwc210@ gmail.com.
