....since I wrote this note.
Sorry to paraphrase an old Sting song from The Police !
Where do I start ?
Been a very very busy 12 months. Planned expansion off the back of a frenzy of hive and frame building over the winter almost came to nought with the cold wet spring, but sunshine prevailed and the bees, kept alive on fondant and a spring feed, have shone though to produce the largest spring honey crop I’ve ever had.
Overall, winter losses were just under 20% which is my worst in 28 seasons, but lessons learned and it shows what varroa medicine works and what doesn’t IMHO.
Almost finished extracting the spring crop. Then got to render a load of winter loss frames, and fit foundation to a couple of hundred brood frames for the splits that are rapidly increasing in size and strength.
I’ve reached that point where I’m ‘almost out of kit’ and will need to plunder the piggy bank to ensure I have enough spare kit for 2019. I did well with some timely purchases at the auctions but it’s never enough !
The other project was to start a bee supplies business (quick plug - White Horse Bee Supplies ) which is doing nicely after just a few months trading and have become a Maisemore Agent.
Yesterday, with the help of my two young apprentice Beekeepers (Junior Somerford # 1 and # 2) we spent the day making up nucs for 5 new Danish Breeder queens and running virgin queens into around 15 splits. Considering it was damp and overcast the bees were very calm and not one sting which always makes for happy Junior Beekeepers in my experience !
Here’s to a good summer flow !
KR
S
Sorry to paraphrase an old Sting song from The Police !
Where do I start ?
Been a very very busy 12 months. Planned expansion off the back of a frenzy of hive and frame building over the winter almost came to nought with the cold wet spring, but sunshine prevailed and the bees, kept alive on fondant and a spring feed, have shone though to produce the largest spring honey crop I’ve ever had.
Overall, winter losses were just under 20% which is my worst in 28 seasons, but lessons learned and it shows what varroa medicine works and what doesn’t IMHO.
Almost finished extracting the spring crop. Then got to render a load of winter loss frames, and fit foundation to a couple of hundred brood frames for the splits that are rapidly increasing in size and strength.
I’ve reached that point where I’m ‘almost out of kit’ and will need to plunder the piggy bank to ensure I have enough spare kit for 2019. I did well with some timely purchases at the auctions but it’s never enough !
The other project was to start a bee supplies business (quick plug - White Horse Bee Supplies ) which is doing nicely after just a few months trading and have become a Maisemore Agent.
Yesterday, with the help of my two young apprentice Beekeepers (Junior Somerford # 1 and # 2) we spent the day making up nucs for 5 new Danish Breeder queens and running virgin queens into around 15 splits. Considering it was damp and overcast the bees were very calm and not one sting which always makes for happy Junior Beekeepers in my experience !
Here’s to a good summer flow !
KR
S
