Preparing for the Bees!

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I know....it's been a while since blogging action.  Hi again!
So I got this idea a while back (winter maybe?) that I "had" to adopt bees. It was a nurturing earth mother thing more than a honey thing.  Honey is ok, but I need a skill....something analog to help connect me to the earth and make me pay attention. Bees seemed perfect, even though my yard in suburban Columbia SC is not a farm or orchard. It IS fenced in, so that is a plus.  I got very invested in the whole plan, so much that I read three books on beekeeping and a bunch of articles, took a class with the Blythewood Bee Company (first lesson: the bees don't need you), a webinar, ordered a nucleus of bees (Carniolans) and a beehive (Langstroth 8-frame deep brood box with 3 supers, cedar, locally and custom made).  I have a protective coat, a smoker, gloves, a net hat, a hive tool, and a certain sense of responsibility toward my new friends, even though they are not yet here.  $600 later, the plan is to pick them up my babies on Saturday morning.  

Beekeeping is an art form, apparently.  Ask 100 keepers and get 100 answers, that kind of thing.  Old school vs. new school, you'll have dozens of opinions (and the bees don't hardly pay attention at all I bet to those opinions).  However,  it's pretty obvious that current use of herb and pesticides, GMOs, mites and moths are damaging our precious bees.  Honey bees are special and they are sensitive and we need them.  More than that, we owe them a legit shot at being happy and free.  I will do my best to protect them. I promise.

Proceeding slowly and diligently, I have joined the ABF, MSBA, SCBA and "a bunch" of online fb groups.  Meetings begin next week!  I also expect that I will need a mentor,  someone who will take my crazy train questions and panic attacks in stride and will alert me to when I need to just take a Benadryl from the sting.  Wish me luck on finding a good mentor. :)

The more you know, the more you know how LITTLE you know, you know?  The advice I have received is to document my progress and share what is happening.  With luck and smarts, I could be peddling neighbor honey.  Without it, my bees could simply disappear.  It's a risky business, er hobby.  I am a bit nervous about it all.  Mostly, I hope they like me.  Two days-Countdown is on!