{"id":7114,"date":"2013-08-26T22:18:16","date_gmt":"2013-08-26T21:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/greensideup.ie\/?p=7114"},"modified":"2016-10-31T11:41:26","modified_gmt":"2016-10-31T11:41:26","slug":"beekeeping-self-sufficient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greensideup.ie\/beekeeping-self-sufficient\/","title":{"rendered":"Beekeeping and the realities of becoming self sufficient"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"honey<\/a>A short while ago I received an unexpected phone call. Did I know of anyone who could remove a swarm of bees from a tree in a garden? The family in question were alarmed to see so many bees that close to their home and were at a loss to know what to do.<\/p>\n

I pointed them in the direction of the mid-Kilkenny Bee Keepers Association<\/a> who can help with bee swarms and subsequently received a text letting me know it had been sorted, so I guess the group had helped or the bees had moved on.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it was no coincidence when I heard the following day that the Association would be extracting honey from the apiary at Lavistown House in Kilkenny<\/a> and that anyone was welcome to watch. Mr G and I headed along with our youngest to find out more.<\/p>\n

\"Mid-Kilkenny<\/a>We’ve been thinking about keeping bees for several years but as with most activities on the quest to self-sufficiency, we’ve been hindered by a common denominator – it costs money. Funny how we have a romantic, fuzzy round the edges notion that providing food for ourselves will be straightforward, cheap and easy, with just a little bit of extra but enjoyable hard work.<\/p>\n

The reality is an eye opener. To begin with, compost, seeds and polytunnels have to be purchased, all animals need housing and fencing, educating ourselves in the form of courses or books is a must given that the knowledge hasn’t been passed down through the generations and buying feed is ongoing.<\/p>\n

All of this adds up to expenses we hadn’t considered 15 years ago when we were day dreaming about our idyllic way of life, when we handed in our notice from full-time jobs, packed up a van as carefree newlyweds and sailed across the sea to the emerald isle and a fresh start.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We hadn’t reckoned on the fact our old farmhouse that was picked up cheaply because of its dilapidated condition would end up costing more than a new home to renovate and that we’d still be repairing it. We hadn’t considered that living rurally where there’s no public transport would mean constant car repairs or that bringing up three children through school and activities would empty the wallet of the remaining coppers. We simply thought we were heading off to lead The Good Life with no financial worries, ties or commitments.<\/p>\n