Report on the northern apiary

[reinbeau]

Despite the fact that we use mediums and slatted racks (an old time beek insists you will get no honey if you use mediums, a new, still wet behind the ears beek insists slatted racks will cause confusion in the hive) we have four booming hives up in Maine, one of which produced 120 pounds of honey for us last year.  I guess it's the same old story, ask ten beekeepers a question and get fifteen answers, not one of which is right!  I have no idea where the idea came that you won't get honey if you use medium supers, we got over 500 pounds total last season, and it wasn't a good season for many.

Some pictures (we must be doing something right):



We had solidified honey to give them, Greg spread it right on the top bars, they were very interested in it! 



We're going up next weekend to make sure they are still doing well - we know this is the time of year they need to build up, so we'll feed them again and put on some pollen patties.  Here's hoping for lots more honey this season!

[buzzbee]

Glad to here the good news Ann and Greg. Lets hope for a banner year this year!!

[woodchopper]

 This year ought to be better as long as it doesn't rain for 11 weeks straight like it did last year. :-D :-D

[buzzbee]

I'm rowing the same boat Greg.  :-D

[WhipCityBeeMan]

You cant get that much honey using mediums. 




hahaha

[Tucker1]

The green hives are cool.  That must be your secret. :-D

[woodchopper]

The green hives are cool.  That must be your secret. :-D

Ironically we chose the darker green because we wanted a color that would help camouflage the hives as well as help gather heat in the colder months. I can't tell you how many times people have been at our house and we had to point out the hives to them because they blended in so well with the surrounding vegetation.  Thanks for all the kind words everybody. :cheer:

[annette]

That is amazing how much honey you get over there.  I have 4 hives now and will see how much I get this year.  Last year hardly anything.

I love the green color as well and am happy for you both.

Annette

[BEESnButterflys]

Looks great and how would the bees know if it 3 mediums or 2 deeps anyway?  square inches are all the same, anyways we have all mediums and hope to have as much success
Thanks Lisa and Bill :lol:

[Jim134]

This year ought to be better as long as it doesn't rain for 11 weeks straight like it did last year. :-D :-D

Woodchopper...........

Hope to forget last year !!!!!!!!!!



  BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

[gardeningfireman]

Don't be so sure the bees don't know the difference. I have CARPENTER BEES that make pretty precise measurements and have contracted with my honeys! :-D

[reinbeau]

Don't be so sure the bees don't know the difference. I have CARPENTER BEES that make pretty precise measurements and have contracted with my honeys! :-D

Our carpenter bees live in my porch ceiling - I've learned if I leave them alone they only make one hole - so far so good, over 15 years like this!

[harvey]

Carpenter Bees!!!   I built my house out of cedar!  I looks really nice and I wish I would have went with vynle or something else.  I do love the wood and so do the carpenter bee's and the woodpeckers!   I have little half inch holes all over the underside of the front and back porch.  I also have streaks here and there that the woodpeckers did in the winter.     Hey those green hives look cool.  My neighbor has some that are pink and blue?  He told me that instead of paying 25 dollars a gallon he goes to home depot and asks for mis-tints.  He gets them for 3 dollars a gallon!  Ya get some pretty weird colors.  I asked home depot about it and they said yes they sell mis-tints for 3 bucks a gallon!  Top quality  stuff just off color.  I figure I will ask each time I go in to home depot and I will get some cool colors for my hives.

[woodchopper]

Looks great and how would the bees know if it 3 mediums or 2 deeps anyway?  square inches are all the same, anyways we have all mediums and hope to have as much success
Thanks Lisa and Bill :lol:

I won't mention any names but one of our bee school instructors was the one who thinks using all mediums is a recipe for disaster. I'd like to mention we had a few hives that produced very little last year. It was only that one in Maine that did so well. Don't worry Lisa...I'm sure your hives will do just fine.  :-D :-D

[Natalie]

Awesome for you guys! I had the same problem with people telling me not to use all mediums or screened bottom boards or slatted racks, or foundationless frames or.....
Thats the thing, if you listen to people instead of going with your gut about whats right you can make some mistakes and those are the ones you regret more because you listened to someone else instead of doing what you wanted.
Its hard when you decide to go against the grain and there isn't any support for it, that is what is so great about this forum, everyone does every type of beekeeping here.
I wonder if the price of honey is going to go up this year since last year was so bad, people may want to try and make up some of their losses. I always price honey at the store to see what is up but its all over the place right now.
Well here is to hoping we all have lovely weather all spring and summer long because at the moment I could probably row a boat in my yard with all this rain. The flowers are popping up all over the place though so I guess there is that.

[woodchopper]

Awesome for you guys! I had the same problem with people telling me not to use all mediums or screened bottom boards or slatted racks, or foundationless frames or.....

I've noticed alot of the longtime beekeepers frown on anything they don't do because they believe the way they do things is the ONLY way. People in general don't like change of any kind. I don't mind when someone calls me a fool for doing things differently but I don't like it when they say try to pass things off as the gospel to bee school students.

[Natalie]

I feel the exact same way, I noticed it at the school when I went too and its frustrating.
Its half the reason why I didn't stay there, they only do one way, the old way and I knew I wasn't going to get any support or have anyone to learn from there.
I think I was the only one there that was doing 8 frame mediums- foundationless and running topbar hives all completely chemical free.
Its almost like they are offended that you are doing things differently from them and are not at all open to it.
I understand when the teachers can't be of much help because they aren't familiar with my methods but its when they discourage you or even sometimes scoff at you that makes me mad.

There are 100 students in the beekeeping class in Norfolk right now and its amazing how many students  this year and last year's students that now have hives are practicing all the alternative methods of beekeeping and are loving it.
While there are still plenty of old timers doing things the old way, thats fine it works for them but there
are many new beekeepers at the club with topbar hives, doing 8 frames mediums and going foundationless and chemical free
Its a surprising number considering its the opposite of what is being taught and its very encouraging because you have other beekeepers that are having the same experiences as you.

[woodchopper]

Good point Natalie. Ann and I are trying to inform the students that there are many other ways to keep bees than the one method explained in the book. It's very important to encourage the new students about the differences before they go out and buy their equipment. I know if we could do it again we'd do things a little differently.    :-D

[Natalie]

Its good that you guys are able to provide the new students with better information than they would get otherwise, I know its not easy to do when you have opposition.

[Jahjude]

 :shock: