I live an hour outside Kansas City, Mo., and will start our first hive next spring. We live on "Beehive Lane", named after my husband's grandfather, Carl Kaltoff, who was a beekeeper in this area. He published in "The Bee Keeper's Journal", and my mother-in-law was on the front cover of one edition in the late 40"s. Needless to say..BIG SHOES TO FILL. I want to start small. learn, and work up to at least 10 hives in the next 3 years. I studied Carl's books and was ready to start 6 years ago...two children later and my husband deployed for three of those years, little time for beekeeping. I love to hear from people, much better than books. Okay, guys, give me the low down. Looking forward to hearing "the good, the bad and the ugly!"