Keeping Bees towards sustainability

I recently purchased a new innovation in Bee Keeping. It is a hive that requires less disturbance to the bees and makes retrieving honey easier. I have been interested in bee keeping for a few years now. My tattoo artist and I got in a long conversation about his own bee keeping. It was inspiring. If the purpose of our homestead is to be more sustainable, it makes sense to produce our own sweetener. As I am allergic to bees, I wasn't sure how to approach keeping bees. The new bee hive system is set to arrive in December, all the way from Australia. It set us back almost $700, including the shipping. In between now and then I plan to join a beekeeping group to learn all I can. The hope is that by next summer we will be producing our own honey.  Also by next summer I would like to be producing our own goats milk and making cheese. Our chicken coop and garden are in the works now. Over the next year we will build up our flock substantially. If all of these plans play out, we will be swimming in eggs, honey, veggies, fruits, and goats milk by next summer. Sounds sustainable, right?  I have a vision of a self pay stand set up at the end of our drive-way filled with our bounty. Our neighbors could stop by, grab, pay. and go. It could contribute to our homestead bringing in an income.  A few other thoughts we have considered for an income is raising meat rabbits or pigs. We will breed our mini pig and guardian dogs. The pigs go for $500 and the puppies $400. My husband is currently taking a small engine/farm equipment class at the college. This is a skill we will need, be able to trade locally, and even possibly bring in an income. I feel pretty darn satisfied with our current progress. I am really looking forward to our intended growth and grateful to be sharing it with all of you!