This forum has much beginners. I calculate that beginner has under 5 years experience. There is a lot of knowledge, but every one must see with their own eyes how bee colonies develope in different or same way through the seasons.
Over wintering seems to be a mystery. It is easy to see. Mystery comes from frights and feelings. Mystery is revealed with experience and knowledge.
Varroa mites seems to rise upp feelings, but in reality it is really one of the most easiest matter in beekeeping. (sometimes not)
Why I write this? - I can see in this forum, that feelings quide in many cases operations. Teacher's like feelings. It is so easy. How much honey for winter, it is feelings matter. I know that bees survive with mere sugar though winter very well, but to say it, it is not what listener want to hear.
What a about if you get 40 lbs more honey from hive? - It is easy, if you change it to winter sugar.
After 42 beekeeping years I have learned durin last year a lot new things when I start to communicate in Finnish beekeepers forum. Also 2 years ago I lost 60% my colinies, but afterwards it was bless, because I was obliged to take in use that kind of new tricks that in normal situations I would be too lazy to react to knowledge.
valuable things were during 2 years
1) I found that I have apistant resistant varroa
2) I took in use acid handling: oxalic acid and formic acid
3) I took into use terrarium heaters at spring
4) I substituted 75% feeded pollen with yeast and soya flour (=money)
5) I returned to italians after 10 Krainian years because of swarming.
6) How to take 200 lbs hives on car cart (?) and change to the better pastures in the middle of summer.
7) I learned the course how colony develope during the spring. Before that I did not care.
I do remember when I have had so much changes in short time?
But the backround of these changes is 10 years experience and I saw that things are not in good condition. When I faced the catastrofy it was time to change things.
I was frigtened many times, how things will succeed! - YES, they went quite well.
I have written to Finnish bee forum, and many feel atrocity
what I am doing with my bees. But I do not ask nothing from bees.
Beekeping is in many cases a matter of feelings. It hinders getting knowledge. there is many variations in nursing. Many make obligatory tricks to they hives, did they needed them or not. They are too lazy to open hives and see, is that needed.
Yes beginners! Try to get knowledge and let the feeleings bee. And if you are afraid, go and ask. Someone helps you. You get wrong adwises, but ask from many and STILL, MAKE WORK TO USE YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!.