Popular Post Alastair 8,630 Posted October 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 28, 2018 A couple of months ago I was approached by a guy who saw bee boxes on my vehicle and button holed me for a talk because he wanted to be a commercial beekeeper. (this happens to me fairly regularly). My advice was no, really bad time to get started, and I ran him through the current issues facing beekeepers. He was very disappointed but not quite ready to give up on his dream. So today I bumped into him again, and chatted for a few minutes. He told me he checked out everything I said, found it was true, and is no longer planning to be a beekeeper. He thanked me for my advice, as he previously had some hives lined up to buy, at inflated prices, he believes meeting me was a lucky break for him. I see this as a sign of the times, not so long ago all and sundry were setting up in business. 8 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwi Bee 589 Posted October 28, 2018 Share Posted October 28, 2018 However he can start small - 4 hives - to have own honey and a small hobby. But no, he wanted to make BIG money - commercial - from the start. Very good if he gave up before he would make more harm the other beekeepers. We already face the side effect of newbies starting BIG and not handling their beehives' management(disease). 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Black 3,520 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 Another sign. There's a question asked, and I think "you have that many hives and this is the question you're asking?" Is it just me... 1 3 3 Link to post Share on other sites
deejaycee 2,457 Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 There's definitely a shift happening/happened, and for the better. The last couple of years when I asked at the beginner's beekeeping course 'who's thinking about making some money/making a living?', half the class raised their hands. This year (a couple of months ago), maybe 10% raised their hands. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 4,924 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Yep ..... I'm raising my hand this year. Just read Niwa's three month weather forcast. 30c days, below average rain. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Alastair 8,630 Posted November 1, 2018 Author Share Posted November 1, 2018 Is that you James, or all of us? Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,976 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 1 minute ago, Alastair said: Is that you James, or all of us? I think just the east coast . If thats like that for him its pretty nasty for us . Does Auckland get westerly winds? Link to post Share on other sites
Alastair 8,630 Posted November 1, 2018 Author Share Posted November 1, 2018 Yes we get westerlies but this is a thin part of the country, they do not pass over a big land mass getting hoter and drier by the time they get to us. Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,976 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 13 minutes ago, Alastair said: Yes we get westerlies but this is a thin part of the country, they do not pass over a big land mass getting hoter and drier by the time they get to us. The same here. We never get a hot dry land wind . But sometimes a nice warm gentle nor easterly . Link to post Share on other sites
john berry 5,636 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 I find niwa to be pretty reliable with their long-range forecasts. They are almost 100% wrong 100% of the time. 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites
glynn 1,517 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 52 minutes ago, john berry said: I find niwa to be pretty reliable with their long-range forecasts. They are almost 100% wrong 100% of the time. Yes I'd agree with that Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,976 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 52 minutes ago, john berry said: I find niwa to be pretty reliable with their long-range forecasts. They are almost 100% wrong 100% of the time. I heard an american forecaster describe NZ as the Everest of forecasting and he was looking forward to the challenge of trying to weather forecast here . 1 Link to post Share on other sites
glynn 1,517 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 2 hours ago, jamesc said: Yep ..... I'm raising my hand this year. Just read Niwa's three month weather forcast. 30c days, below average rain. With all the pivots we may be in the middle of a green desert. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 4,924 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 I think ot for all of us....blue skies seem to have a dollar each way. l generally keep their forcasts out of canterbury farming and read them again at the end of the season.... they sort of get it. I see there is fresh whitebait at the physic reader at the old west coast road up from Kumara. ... might stop one day for a fritter and a weather forcast. Link to post Share on other sites
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