crazy
Member
have you guys thought about getting a bee hive, sounds like you have a market in your area? 
A question about honey prices
- Thread starter TheFlatline
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TheFlatline
Well-Known Member
I think a fertile queen and colony run like 20-30 thousand dollars if memory serves.
Not sure where you are getting your prices from but a nucleus hive (nuc) is about $70 and a starter kit for the hive and equipment is under $300.
Even an established hive is probably worth no more than a few hundred dollars. If beekeeps could get thousands for their hives most would sell out in seconds.
I thought seriously about starting my own hive but I have yet to convince my wife. She wants nothing to do with stinging insects no matter what the circumstances.
Craig
crazy
Member
Well keeping bees is a commitment and you won't get rich but there is something satifying about harvesting your own honey.
You can get a nice established hive in the spring for about $300 and you could expect to collect 60 lbs of surplus honey on average. Hmm you say, $300 divided by 60 = $5 / lb. and now you just have to figure out how to get this hive to overwinter so you can get honey from it next year.
You know, $3 per pound bulk is sounding like a deal.
Crazy
You can get a nice established hive in the spring for about $300 and you could expect to collect 60 lbs of surplus honey on average. Hmm you say, $300 divided by 60 = $5 / lb. and now you just have to figure out how to get this hive to overwinter so you can get honey from it next year.
You know, $3 per pound bulk is sounding like a deal.
Crazy
When I was doing some researching on keeping bees I quickly realized that this was not a way to get cheap honey. Same as home brewing is not a cheap way to get beer.
However if my situation allowed it I still would get a couple hives. I think keeping bees may be even more rewarding than brewing.
Craig
OP
OP
TheFlatline
Well-Known Member
Obviously I got my prices from someone who had their head stuck firmly up their behind. Wish I could remember who to smack for being that bullshiat.
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ChshreCat
Well-Known Member
The co-op near here has fresh local honey for $3.30/lb. Not as low as some of the prices I've seen on here, but still good. They currently have blackberry and fireweed honey.
Freezeblade
Well-Known Member
I just got 1 gallon of Mesquite honey for $11 from my recent trip to Mexico. It was in this big market/bizzare type thing, they were also selling 5 gallon buckets, but I didn't check the prices. That's the best price I've ever paid.
Greetings all I'm new here and I've brewed my first batch of mead this year. I've been looking into honey around here in SW Oregon and prices run about $3.30-$3.50 a pound. In which a local bee keeper would sell me 15lbs (5qts) for 50 bucks and it wasn't that long ago $1.50/lbs was normal. So if I were to find honey under $3/lbs and if I had the money to buy I would. I plan on building some bee hives over the winter and I'm looking into a NUC for about $90 I'm hoping within 5 year my honey cost will be lower while enjoying the extra benifits from having hives of my own
gratus fermentatio
Well-Known Member
I think I'd stock up on that smokin good deal. BTW, ever tasted acacia honey? I've only recently tasted it for the 1st time & all I can say is "OH YEAH!" It's lighter, thinner, and a more delicate flavour/aroma, but it's soooo floral & tasty... I've decided that I'll not make any more mead until I can make it with acacia honey. After I've done so, then I'll start making mead with other honeys again. Regards, GF.
ChshreCat
Well-Known Member
I'm wondering if I want to go with the blackberry at the co-op for over 3 bucks a pound, or get the clover honey at CostCo for 1.50 a pound.
not to say you won't make great mead with the costco honey...but you get what you pay for.
IF you're adding a bunch of fruit or spices and stuff...go with the costco.
ChshreCat
Well-Known Member
That makes sense. If I do a melomel of something I'll go with the cheap stuff and get the good honey for a straight mead.
crazy
Member
I sure wish that good quality local honey was available to all you guys. If you can't find a resonable source for local honey contact your land grant university. The school of entomology can locate you a keeper or a coop of producers.
Gosh, your mead is you art...don't paint your art on a muddy canvas!
Please!!!
just call me crazy!
Gosh, your mead is you art...don't paint your art on a muddy canvas!
Please!!!
just call me crazy!
HEY! EXCITING NEWS.
You'll have to excuse my stupidity for not thinking of this years ago...but EBAY HAS HONEY!
I've found some orange blossom (Great for Show Meads) for very reasonable.
You'll have to excuse my stupidity for not thinking of this years ago...but EBAY HAS HONEY!
I've found some orange blossom (Great for Show Meads) for very reasonable.
I just looked... and found 4 pails of 5 Gallons... and they all cost under 80$ for the pail... with 75$ shipping... so it s not worth it
I just looked... and found 4 pails of 5 Gallons... and they all cost under 80$ for the pail... with 75$ shipping... so it s not worth it
Lots of 12# lots for like $38 with free shipping....but they come in bears.
HarvInSTL
Well-Known Member
Here is a file that I created a month or so ago for a fellow mead maker. The auctions I link are over, but the same seller should have the same mead available for the same price.
Code:
Honey Type Weight Price Shipping $/lb shipped URL
Blackberry 60 $165.80 $26.72 $3.21 http://cgi.ebay.com/Pure-Raw-Blackberry-Honey-60lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ150213141747QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150213141747
Blackberry 30 $87.30 $19.84 $3.57 http://cgi.ebay.com/Pure-Raw-Blackberry-Honey-30lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160217765891QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160217765891
Raspberry 60 $180.00 $26.72 $3.45 http://cgi.ebay.com/Pure-Raw-Raspberry-Honey-60lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ150213143483QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150213143483
Raspberry 30 $95.00 $19.84 $3.83 http://cgi.ebay.com/Pure-Raw-Raspberry-Honey-30lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ150213143470QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150213143470
Basswood 60 $120.00 $26.72 $2.45 http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Pure-Raw-Basswood-Honey-60-lb-Pail-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160217765886QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160217765886
Basswood 30 $65.00 $20.30 $2.84 http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Pure-Raw-Basswood-Honey-30-lb-Pail-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160237576084QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160237576084
Clover 60 $120.00 $26.72 $2.45 http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Pure-Raw-Clover-Honey-60lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160215068398QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160215068398
Clover 30 $65.00 $19.84 $2.83 http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Pure-Raw-Clover-Honey-30-lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160178519650QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160178519650
Orange Blossom 60 $140.00 $26.72 $2.78 http://cgi.ebay.com/Raw-Orange-Blossom-Honey-60lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ150245651702QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150245651702
Orange Blossom 30 $80.00 $19.84 $3.33 http://cgi.ebay.com/Raw-Orange-Blossom-Honey-30lb-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160239151756QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160239151756
Buckwheat 60 $120.00 $27.09 $2.45 http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Pure-Raw-Buckwheat-Honey-60-lb-Pail-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160214885942QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160214885942
Buckwheat 30 $69.00 $20.30 $2.98 http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Pure-Raw-Buckwheat-Honey-30-lb-Pail-Bulk-Price_W0QQitemZ160214827371QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160214827371HarvInSTL
Well-Known Member
Holy ****! Some of his prices have dropped, and some of them have went up.
For example his clover and orange blossom have went up. But his blackberry and raspberry (at least in the 60lb pails) have dropped at least $30/pail.
Now off to check the 30lb prices.
For example his clover and orange blossom have went up. But his blackberry and raspberry (at least in the 60lb pails) have dropped at least $30/pail.
Now off to check the 30lb prices.
Clayton
Well-Known Member
Mesquite honey is good stuff i made a mead a few years back 50/50% Mesquite - Sage
and it is Damn good.
one source honeys are more exsencive but are really fun to play with.
SWMBO picked me up 15# Of broccoli honey on a trip to the left coast
the honey tasted great cant wate for the mead to be done
honey list here are some other one sorce honey types
Acacia - Pale yellow, Light and delicate, with a flavor that reminds of dried pineapple
Ailanthus - Dark and has been reported as having an initial foul taste that disappears with aging, resulting in an exceptionally good tasting honey
Alfalfa - Very light honey with a pleasing, mild flavor and aroma.
Alsike Clover - Often used for surplus honey in northern states; mild, light-colored, often mixed with honey from white clover.
Anise Hyssop - Mint like flavor, heavy body, light colored.
Avocado - Dark and rich and full-bodied, and there is definitely a "resemblance" to the avocado fruit
Basswood/Linden - Extra-white, Light honey with a strong flavor.
Black Locust - Extra-white, high quality honey.
Black Mangrove - light with a thin body, slightly brackish taste.
Black Sage or Ball Sage - distinctive flavor.
Blackberry - Medium light and exceptionally sweet! Popular with kids. It has a fruity character
Blueberry - Midrange in color, blueberry is surprisingly rich-tasting.
Bluecurls - Mild, very white, granulating smoothly and quickly.
Buckwheat - Very dark and full-bodied honey.
Catsclaw - Popular in the southwest U.S.; white in color.
Christmas Berry - The taste is strong and exotic.
Clary Sage - Medium in strength and color.
Clover, Sweet - white in color and mild in flavor.
Clover, White - Most used east of the Mississippi; color is white to extra-light amber with a mild, delicious flavor.
Coralberry - light-amber color with good flavor.
Cotton - very dark and very rich
Cranberry - medium sweet and the taste is tangy
Dandelion - Honey is yellow with a strong flavor.
Desert Sage - Light, with just a bit of edge to its character, and a pleasant dustiness
Echinacea - Medium-dark, it makes me think of a chewy granola bar (with coconut?)
Eucalyptus - it does have a hint of that cool eucalyptus quality, in a pleasant mellow honey
Fireweed - buttery taste.
Foxglove - Medium-dark, edgy, flavorful
Gallberry - light amber with a pleasant aromatic flavor; does not crystallize making it a good candidate for chunk honey.
Goldenrod - yellow with a rich distinctive flavor.
Heather - Though a lighter-than-medium gold color, it is one of the very strongest flavors
Holly - Medium sweet with some nutty overtones.
Horehound - greenish or any shade of amber. Very strong tasting, tends to granulate.
Horsemint - White to light-amber with a minty flavor; may have a strong odor.
Lavender - colors range from white, yellow, gold to various shades of amber.
Lehua - From Hawaii, it's middlin' gold and middlin' sweet and just plain weird in flavor.
Macadamia - very rich-tasting, and amber in color
Maple - Light amber to slightly darker; good flavor.
Meadowfoam - Tastes like the inside of a warm marshmallow.
Mesquite - Light, delicate, and it does taste like "mesquite"
Orange Blossom - Light honey with a fresh scent and sweet taste.
Oregano - mint like flavor.
Palmetto - In a class with avocado and blueberry: somewhat strong, rich and mellow, and dark amber in color.
Persimmon - water-white.
Raspberry - White with a slightly fruity taste.
Rosemary - rich flavor with aroma like the plant. Clear, white or water white, granulates quickly.
Sage - mild flavor with sage like aroma. Clear white to pale yellow or amber.
Savory - yellow or greenish.
Saw Palmetto - rich yellow in color.
Snowberry - Light, sweet, with a bit of tang
Sourwood - Light, specialty honey from the Carolinas. Not sour, but less sweet than some.
Spanish Needles - Golden yellow with a pronounced flavor; can be mixed with white clover honey to obtain a mild, golden-tinted honey.
Sumac - Light amber with an excellent flavor.
Sweet Pepper Bush - Light yellow with a mild flavor and aroma of the bloom; marketed under the scientific name of Clethra.
Thistle - Light in color and "lively" in flavor.
Tulip Poplar - Dark in color but has a mild flavor.
Tupelo - Clear yellow in color with a distinctive taste.
Thyme - amber or golden, distinctive mint-like flavor.
Vetch - Water-white, mild; wide selection of flavors, colors, and textures
Wildflower - Dark honey blended for a mild flavor.
Woundwort - white, very light amber or light yellow. Mild flavor but aroma can be heavy.
and it is Damn good.
one source honeys are more exsencive but are really fun to play with.
SWMBO picked me up 15# Of broccoli honey on a trip to the left coast
the honey tasted great cant wate for the mead to be done
honey list here are some other one sorce honey types
Acacia - Pale yellow, Light and delicate, with a flavor that reminds of dried pineapple
Ailanthus - Dark and has been reported as having an initial foul taste that disappears with aging, resulting in an exceptionally good tasting honey
Alfalfa - Very light honey with a pleasing, mild flavor and aroma.
Alsike Clover - Often used for surplus honey in northern states; mild, light-colored, often mixed with honey from white clover.
Anise Hyssop - Mint like flavor, heavy body, light colored.
Avocado - Dark and rich and full-bodied, and there is definitely a "resemblance" to the avocado fruit
Basswood/Linden - Extra-white, Light honey with a strong flavor.
Black Locust - Extra-white, high quality honey.
Black Mangrove - light with a thin body, slightly brackish taste.
Black Sage or Ball Sage - distinctive flavor.
Blackberry - Medium light and exceptionally sweet! Popular with kids. It has a fruity character
Blueberry - Midrange in color, blueberry is surprisingly rich-tasting.
Bluecurls - Mild, very white, granulating smoothly and quickly.
Buckwheat - Very dark and full-bodied honey.
Catsclaw - Popular in the southwest U.S.; white in color.
Christmas Berry - The taste is strong and exotic.
Clary Sage - Medium in strength and color.
Clover, Sweet - white in color and mild in flavor.
Clover, White - Most used east of the Mississippi; color is white to extra-light amber with a mild, delicious flavor.
Coralberry - light-amber color with good flavor.
Cotton - very dark and very rich
Cranberry - medium sweet and the taste is tangy
Dandelion - Honey is yellow with a strong flavor.
Desert Sage - Light, with just a bit of edge to its character, and a pleasant dustiness
Echinacea - Medium-dark, it makes me think of a chewy granola bar (with coconut?)
Eucalyptus - it does have a hint of that cool eucalyptus quality, in a pleasant mellow honey
Fireweed - buttery taste.
Foxglove - Medium-dark, edgy, flavorful
Gallberry - light amber with a pleasant aromatic flavor; does not crystallize making it a good candidate for chunk honey.
Goldenrod - yellow with a rich distinctive flavor.
Heather - Though a lighter-than-medium gold color, it is one of the very strongest flavors
Holly - Medium sweet with some nutty overtones.
Horehound - greenish or any shade of amber. Very strong tasting, tends to granulate.
Horsemint - White to light-amber with a minty flavor; may have a strong odor.
Lavender - colors range from white, yellow, gold to various shades of amber.
Lehua - From Hawaii, it's middlin' gold and middlin' sweet and just plain weird in flavor.
Macadamia - very rich-tasting, and amber in color
Maple - Light amber to slightly darker; good flavor.
Meadowfoam - Tastes like the inside of a warm marshmallow.
Mesquite - Light, delicate, and it does taste like "mesquite"
Orange Blossom - Light honey with a fresh scent and sweet taste.
Oregano - mint like flavor.
Palmetto - In a class with avocado and blueberry: somewhat strong, rich and mellow, and dark amber in color.
Persimmon - water-white.
Raspberry - White with a slightly fruity taste.
Rosemary - rich flavor with aroma like the plant. Clear, white or water white, granulates quickly.
Sage - mild flavor with sage like aroma. Clear white to pale yellow or amber.
Savory - yellow or greenish.
Saw Palmetto - rich yellow in color.
Snowberry - Light, sweet, with a bit of tang
Sourwood - Light, specialty honey from the Carolinas. Not sour, but less sweet than some.
Spanish Needles - Golden yellow with a pronounced flavor; can be mixed with white clover honey to obtain a mild, golden-tinted honey.
Sumac - Light amber with an excellent flavor.
Sweet Pepper Bush - Light yellow with a mild flavor and aroma of the bloom; marketed under the scientific name of Clethra.
Thistle - Light in color and "lively" in flavor.
Tulip Poplar - Dark in color but has a mild flavor.
Tupelo - Clear yellow in color with a distinctive taste.
Thyme - amber or golden, distinctive mint-like flavor.
Vetch - Water-white, mild; wide selection of flavors, colors, and textures
Wildflower - Dark honey blended for a mild flavor.
Woundwort - white, very light amber or light yellow. Mild flavor but aroma can be heavy.
scinerd3000
Well-Known Member
where do most of you buy your honey at?
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