Beekeeping in Western Kentucky:
Interview with Larry Stone of Nebo, Kentucky
Q:Why did you start beekeeping?
A:My brother was into it. I knew the bees were leaving and I knew they were good pollinators, so I decided to start my own hive.
Q:Who could you contact if you were interested in beekeeping?
A:Get with someone is already a beekeeper. There are beekeeping schools in January through March. They’ll show you how do it. I have also read several books, so there is a lot of information out there. However, it’s easiest to contact someone who is already established.
Q:What are some benefits to the beekeepers and to the environment?
A:It provides honey after the first year. The bees are also pollinators and they fly up to two miles, so they span a radius of four miles around the hive.
Q:How exactly does it work?
A:You start by either catching a swarm in the spring or you can order bees from a bee company. Then you let the queen bee and the rest of the hive grow and you can collect honey after the first year.
Keeping your Own Hive
If you are interested in beekeeping, there are people throughout the community that you can contact and start your own hive. But the key to having a productive hive is having access to information and support. There is a beekeeping association in Western Kentucky based out of Henderson called the Audubon Beekeepers Association. They provide information for new beekeepers, have monthly meetings, and strive to keep the public informed about the importance of bees as pollinators. They also help support new hive owners when they become members of the Audubon Beekeepers Association (the one which the Stone’s are a part of). When ordering bees, it is commonplace to order packages of bees with three pounds of bees with one queen. You can also buy what is called a 5 nuc- it’s a queen that is already in with a comb and she has already laid. If you buy the nuc, then it puts the hive two to three weeks ahead of the package bee, because the nucs are ready to hatch. When you order the give, they come with 12,000 to 15,000 bees, but at full strength the hives can get up to 40,000-60,000 bees strong. It is also important to know that the first year you don’t get any honey. Up until recently, there was a 47 year ban in the city of Madisonville against owning bees, but last week that law was overturned. Although it does not allow for commercial beekeeping, it does permit two hives per household with some additional requirements.
For more information, there are various websites and associations that you can contact for information and support. The local Audubon Beekeepers Association can be contacted at:
www.audubonbeekeepersassociation.com
http://www.audubonbeekeepersassociation.com
Beekeeping