Hi All
 
On the second hand equipment side of things I would like to say that
I am really glad I  started with  second hand equipment. Bees don't
like to go where bees have not been before I find.
 
So, if I put bees in new boxes, I have to give them a frame of brood.
If I put them in old boxes, they stay.
 
New frames in a catch box don't catch bees.  Old frames do.
 
New frames can have as many viruses as old frames, as wax made into
foundation is heated, but handled by people that handle hundreds of
kgs of wax and spread viruse by hand all over the place.
 
I think that maybe second hand equipment from a good source (old
honest beekeeper) is a good idea, and useful in seeing how bees react
in an environment in which they are at home.
 
I would hate to live in a house where I had to put all the plaster in
myself and so on. Would muc rather spend time building beehives. I
gather bees much prefer their frames with that nice brown layer over
them, and the hive nicely gummed up.
 
Just my two cents (given the exchange rate to SA rand, it is worth
nearly nothing.)
 
Keep well
 
Garth
---
Garth Cambray       Kamdini Apiaries
15 Park Road        Apis melifera capensis
Grahamstown         800ml annual precipitation
6139
Eastern Cape
South Africa               Phone 27-0461-311663
 
3rd year Biochemistry/Microbiology    Rhodes University
In general, generalisations are bad.
Interests: Flii's and Bees.