Hello from Maine

[summerbeam]

Hi all-  My name is Bruce and live in Garland, Me. with my wife Chris.  We have been trying to keep bees for nearly 20 years and are still trying to get it right.  We did have our best honey crop ever last year in a very lousy summer but once again it seems like they didn't survive the winter.  We've gotten interested in trying 4.9 bees this year (sometimes I wonder why we persist!) and hope maybe you all can help us keep on keeping on.

[fermentedhiker]

Welcome aboard.  Always glad to see another Mainer in the crowd.  I grew up not too far from you in Atkinson.  Have you been able to determine what caused the failures yet?  My one hive is surviving so far but I'm already having concerns that they'll make it through until spring.  If they make it I'm going to be attempting to regress them as well as two packages to natural/small cell this season.  You'll find lots of information and helpful folks on here.

[Cindi]

Bruce, welcome to our forum, this is the best place ever.  A place where you can lean on us to help you to make it through the winter with your bees.  Twenty years....that is a long period of persistence, you have surely fallen beneath their spell, as so many of us other beekeepers have.  Stick around, this will be a place where you can tell your many tales, stories and experiences, we all love to listen, and we learn too.  You will also make some new and wonderful friends.  Have the best of a great day, great health, love life.  Cindi

[1reb]

Hello and Welcome Bruce and Chris
There is alot of great information on the forum !!
The members here are willing help and answer your questions, all you need to do is to ask
Johnny   

[BjornBee]

Welcome to the site Bruce and Chris. Isn't nice to have a great site helpful people to keep you warm while your being dumped on by a foot of snow...  :-D