Greetings from NEPA

drstan · September 20, 2009, 08:59:05 PM

Greetings from northeastern PA. I'm a first year beekeeper. I have been lurking here since may and this forum has been an immense help.
I started the season with 2 packages and added 2 more hives - a split and a cutout. The cutout went smoothly thanks to the "tools" list from the "honeybee removal" topic. Many thanks to robo for sharing his bee vac plans here, I couldn't imagine doing a cutout without it. The cutout bees had been in the wall of a local home for many years according to a neighbor. They are darker than my italians and are really booming. They start working a good hour earlier than the other hives these cool mornings .

Despite less than stellar weather this year, two of the hives each have a super of honey nearly full and pretty full stores down below. I'm trying to figure out my timing to pull the supers and start feeding.
Thanks to all the regular contributors to this forum, your help has been invaluable.

drstan

Sparky · September 20, 2009, 09:57:09 PM

Welcome drstan. It sounds as though you are off to a great start. It also sounds as though you are good at doing the things needed as you read and build your equipment that some still do not own that have had bees for years. Your skills will come as a great advantage in this craft to keep expenses down. How long ago did you do your cut out job ? It sounds like they may be Russian breed if they are that dark.

drstan · September 20, 2009, 10:27:00 PM

I did the cutout the first week of august. Saved/framed about 9 deep frames of brood and got about 3 gallons of honey.
I put a second deep body foundationess on and they have it just about full.

Robo · September 20, 2009, 10:42:40 PM

Quote from: drstan on September 20, 2009, 08:59:05 PM
Greetings from northeastern PA.

We are practically neighbors, I'm about an hour from Matamoras :-P

QuoteMany thanks to robo for sharing his bee vac plans here, I couldn't imagine doing a cutout without it.

Your welcome, and I couldn't either :-D

QuoteThe cutout bees had been in the wall of a local home for many years according to a neighbor. They are darker than my italians and are really booming. They start working a good hour earlier than the other hives these cool mornings .

My favorite kind and the reason I do cut-outs. The best way to improve your stock of bees.

1reb · September 20, 2009, 11:54:21 PM

Hello and Welcome drstan
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

JWPick · September 21, 2009, 09:29:47 AM

Welcome DrStan! Wonderful to have you in the Forum! Lots of wonderful and knowledgeable people here, but I think you already know that. Have fun!

melliphile · September 21, 2009, 09:15:54 PM

Hi drstan and welcome!
I'm not far from you either, Mayfield, to be exact. I didn't realize Robo was so close. Glad you found us!

buzzbee · September 21, 2009, 09:30:31 PM

Hey Dr. Stan,
welcome,I am from N central PA. Welcome to the forum!

Mehmet Yüksel · September 23, 2009, 04:00:37 PM

Hello and Welcome to the Forum Dr.Stan :)

Cindi · October 02, 2009, 10:33:52 AM

Drstan. Welcome to our forum, great that you have found us, stick around, we love new members. This will be a place where you can share your experiences, learn stuff, a place to make new friends. You will be amongst the bees for many years to come, you will be held under their spell, as so many of us are. Have a most wonderful and awesome day, great health. Cindi