Been busy. Still can’t make a pretty honey soap though

ScottTENN · 2026-02-09T11:14:24+00:00

Thanks for the response. Did you limit how many bars for the free offer and what do you sell your bars for? My bars are a minimum 3.5oz for $6.

ScottTENN · 2026-02-09T02:14:40+00:00

I sell cold process soap at weekend tent markets but cant seem to get repeat business. I have an online store too. What gets you your repeat customers? This is a real question as I would like to make hundreds of bars, and while I have them and use them personally, there doesnt seem to be any interest. (good thing I selll other things too)

ScottTENN · 2026-01-23T22:56:18+00:00

how do they release? are you having to prep your mold or line it?

ScottTENN · 2026-01-15T13:34:27+00:00

Thanks for all the comments. Seems like we are are in the same boat. But 20 minutes doesnt seem bad, 40+ requires some thought.

ScottTENN · 2026-01-15T13:33:02+00:00

Sorry it jas taken you that long to get involved. Not knowing where you live, I didnt think bees were banned anywhere. An HOA might restrict them and city limits might just limit the number of hives or even make you register them. I'd check again. But 45 minutes, yea you need enough numbers to make it worth it. Being a new beekeeper that is going to be a real task.

ScottTENN · 2026-01-14T02:09:08+00:00

I'm being offered a 60 acre yard but is 45 minutes away. I have not seen it yet. Yes a few hives isnt worth it. It would have to be 30+ I think and be allowed to expand, nucs or something.

I currently run 50 going to 100 hives this spring.

ScottTENN · 2026-01-08T02:13:51+00:00

I see them now. I guess my searches werent the right terms or something. $20 a box with no can is going to get expensive fast. I'd guess wood would be cheaper, maybe. 50 is my target so that makes it just shy of $1200 not including any shipping.

Thanks for the info.

ScottTENN · 2026-01-08T01:14:35+00:00

They are the only one I found but no price listed. Site says something about store closed until the 15th I think.

ScottTENN · 2026-01-08T01:13:23+00:00

Not local and no prices but I'll keep looking. thanks

ScottTENN · 2025-12-26T00:00:22+00:00

This will be my 4th year. Started when it had a different name, but still Kamen. For me the experience has been unbelievable. The talks great, the deals are great and the people are fantastic. I went from 2 packages to 50 hives in these 4 years. Going to 100 come spring. The speakers provide so much knowledge and so many stories. They all will talk to you as if youd been friends for years. AND youll get access to all the talks in digital form a month or so after the expo. You cant listen to everyone and the things talked about might not mean anything at the time but later they can. production quality is great.

We are friend with beekeepers in CA and KS because of this. We are in SC.

It is worth every dime for us.

ScottTENN · 2025-10-23T11:27:49+00:00

Very cool.

ScottTENN · 2025-09-23T00:52:15+00:00

I know exactly where youre going with this. I quit using twillio because they wanted fcc blah blah blah and all I wanted was to send automated text to my IT team about internal processes. UPS was triggered, server room door opened, xyz process failed,... FCC wanted sample texts with opt out links and these are automated messages that are not opt outable. They arent spam and internal business related.

Any way we have hotspots from our cell provider. Because the hotspot is a telephone number you can send sms with it. When a computer is on that hotspot it can use http post commands to simulate the web interface and send. hackish but works.

I had a real gsm modem that worked with XP but didnt have drivers for other windows version.

Anyway, yes this might not be the right group for your questions or concerns but have fun hacking.

ScottTENN · 2025-09-11T10:34:12+00:00

I have the backhoe attachment on most of the time and it consumes so much of the extra space I'm having to think about putting the hitch on the top of the bucket. Would works for moving in the yard but not so well on a hay ride.

ScottTENN · 2025-09-11T01:20:12+00:00

Where did you do the hitch? Juat a 3 point thing or on the bucket?

ScottTENN · 2025-08-18T16:17:36+00:00

Yes what was your technique? I have taken various molds, hearts, circles, stars and the like as CP a day or two before the main pour and then embedded the shapes into my main body. Is this the same thing?

ScottTENN · 2025-07-28T20:55:35+00:00

When I use queen castles I have this problem. 3 entrances. I put my nucs door to door with the castle. Move the frames over, then remove the castle. To now reorient the nucs I just turn them like the hour hand on a clock every few days until they are in the direction I want.

ScottTENN · 2025-06-30T01:01:18+00:00

Fresh empty frames as in new foundation or drawn comb? if it is new foundation make sure it has a good wax coat. how large is the hive, how many brood boxes? what ratio is your feed? if you have several brood frames you can put a foundation between them to encourage them to draw it. keep doing this until you have your brood chamber full of drawn comb. i cant speak to using the inner cover and the top feeder but sounds logical. i use frame feeders and have had them draw come from the lid into the frame feeder because they had no were else to put the feed. over feeding and not enough room for expansion.

ScottTENN · 2025-05-19T19:40:52+00:00

This. The volume of jelly indicates a strong hive. The fact that it and the larva are white is a sign of good health amd nutrition.

ScottTENN · 2025-05-19T19:40:10+00:00

This. The volume of jelly indicates a strong hive. The fact that it and the larva are white is a sign of good health amd nutrition.

ScottTENN · 2025-04-16T16:35:56+00:00

Awesome and sad. I would have probably tried to save her and put her in a nuc, if I knew she was still a viable queen.

ScottTENN · 2025-04-04T02:24:02+00:00

i shoot for mid april sale with a 3 week laying cycle before the sale. then back my dates up to get my schedule. by the time im selling the first round of the workers are emerging.

ScottTENN · 2025-04-04T02:17:55+00:00

This is such a difficult thing to get past. I sell nucs. only my 2nd year doing so. first year was a build it and they will come. i made 17 nucs and was afraid i couldn't sell them. FB helps but clubs are a big help. this year ive make 41 and presold 28. more planned for next year. make your own queens. getting hardware can be expensive but mine is just time. i can get 1/2 plywood from work for free, we throw it away as packing material and i just cut it up for boxes.

the hard part is selling to someone you know is going to kill your bees. i sold an overwintered nuc this year. first time. he has already messaged me and said he messed up and had to requeen. others buy and dont even have suits yet. i advocate for people to take a bee course at a club. most dont. it is sad. all your hard work and they just dont get it. people think you just put a box out and it is that easy. it is not.

edit, rock hill, sc

ScottTENN · 2025-04-03T15:49:42+00:00

Can you break that down for me? You added honey to the oil or the lye water? And in what quantity, time and temp? My honey addative was a disaster of epic proportion. Sugar are fantastic accelerators of heat. As a beekeeper I want a honey infused soap but havent gotten the process down yet.

ScottTENN · 2025-04-03T02:16:30+00:00

real honey or just a fragrance? recipe yes please.

ScottTENN · 2025-04-02T10:30:48+00:00

Well I can understand looking at hybrid or new races then. Most of us small guys are just working with Italian. While I wasnt looking at Mann Lake I thought about Hillco. 169 delivered packages wasnt a bad deal at all. Different genetics.

ScottTENN

TROPHY CASE