Hello All:
 
I am new to this list and that is the reason for this E-mail.  I want to
keep bees as a hobby.  My father kept bees off and on from about 1950 to
about 1993 when they got to be too much with all the other yard work.
He was 80 last week.  I remember helping my father with the bees as a
boy and young man.
 
I am now in my fifties and have built a retirement place in Northern
California.  It is about 35 miles east of Red Bluff at about 3500'.
Plenty of manzinita,sage (buckbrush) and star thistle.  Buckeye is
also around and I know I will have to take precautions with this.  Andy
from Wild Bees has already been of help.  Oh yes I forgot to mention the
bears.  There are a few in the area.  However if one only has a hive or
two I would suppose one bear is enough.  That is why I am at present
scrounging for a fence charger.
 
I am still working in the San Francisco Bay Area so I only get up to my
place two or three times a month.  This means I will have to do some
extra planning about the things I do with the bees I hope to have up
there soon.
 
Thank You
 
Jeffrey R. Tooker