I begain beekeeping in 1975. By 1985 I had 60 hives. We had just began to have mite problems and the friend that had helped me died, I lost intrest in beekeeping and sold everything. In 2009 my brother inlaw wanted to try beekeeping and ask me to help him get started. I had loved beekeeping and now I had a reason to get started again. I now have 4 hives. It is just a hobby this time.I am 75 years old so I don't want too much work.
Welcome to the forum, H Wray. "Just a hobby"....a bit of advice...be very careful what you say.
My mentor is 79 (80?) and made a little over a ton of honey last year. This year he's downsized a little and with the odd season that we had he probably will be in the 3/4 ton range. His best friend is around 82 but doesn't keep as many production hives BUT he started this year working on queen and nuc production (Caucasians).
So, with four hives and having a background in bees....who knows what your outcome will be.
Whatever you do this time around....have lots of fun!!!!!!
Ed
