Hi there,
I run an organic beekeeping thing in the Black Forest/ Germany. This year we had some 40 or 50 colonies. Into this winter will be going about 80 or so.
We use Jumbo-Frames in the brood-area and shallows for supers. The construction of the hives is a bit different from the normal langstroth-boxes. I added a little something to hinder the boxes from toppling off each other.
the boxes are 9 frames. that is to fit two of them side by side on a "Euro-Pallete" which is the standard size around this continent. this way I can use the space on a truck or any transportation vehicle to its best.
I did spend a year in Ohio - it`s been some time. And every now and then I pick up ideas from the english-speaking beekeepers. Like excluders in between the boxes (in Germany they are usually INSIDE the box, just covering the frames) or triangular bee-excapes.
Our main flows are spring-flower honey, also some basswood, chestnut and of course forest-honey, and most valuable: pine-tree honey.
I wish You full buckets of Honey,
blackforest beekeeper
Welcome to Beemaster.
What is pine tree honey? I live in the middle of nothing but big pine trees but they are mostly slash, Longleaf and some loblolly pines.
Jim
Hi Jim,
thanks for the welcome.
"middle of nothing" sounds good.
As far as Germany is concerned, that is where I live, too. :happy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abies_alba
is the pine I mean. Makes up about 10% of the Black Forest.
some years they are "densly" (enough) populated with
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauml%C3%A4use
(couldn`t find that in English)
the pee of the lice is sweet and collected by the bees.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeydew_(secretion)
also from other trees
the pine tree honey is a very late and rare flow (every 7 years about). it is delicious. it tastes as if the buttered roll was underneath already. it stays liquid long time, has a low water-content and has a "buttery" consistency. It`s probably the most valuable honey in Germany. Only to be had in southern forest regions. esp. Black Forest.
Usually the colonies diminish brooding to next to nothing in such a flow. oftentimes after the flow there are very little bees in the hive. flying from twig to twig (or rather from louse to louse) takes a lot of energy. they get black and old fast.
This year is different (it was hot and dry). After they diminished their brooding heavily during a forest-honey, we call "cement-honey" (or concrete) as it gets HARD in the combs, they bred well during pine flow. but the forest-honeys are not good for wintering. and the pine-flow is late. it would still be going if it stayed dry. I should have wintered them in already. Have never been this late. now it`s rainy and I can`t work the bees. tomorrow...
have to get out almost all pine-honey and then treat for varroa and feed them - urgently.
still extracting....
so far.
greetings from the Black Forest!
PS: The amounts of "cement-honey" I decided to turn into mead. no way to get it in a jar
How do you treat for mites? Do you use oav too?
Fascinating - your stories.
I used to live near Zwiesel, Bavaria. Plenty pine.
Hi!
Keeping bees in the subtropics now. See you around.
Hi beepro, sorry, missed Your question. Yes, i use OAV, but not only. Formic acid on sponge cloths, too, in summer. dribbling in frosty conditions. and any kinds of
Hi beelab,
don`t know Zwiesel, but it probably is not far away. Munich is a 4 hours drive from my place. Strasbourg - it`s in the media now, about an hour. (got lost in Strasbourg this year when returning from a yard in the chestnut.)
I`d love to live in the sub-tropics!
have a good season!