So winter is coming (or has come) for many of us. Understudy is putting his long pants on instead of shorts, while us in colder climate areas, turn up the heater and watch the snow fall.
Since switching jobs in May, I obviously have been absent from the board, but not absent from beekeeping. Please excuse my neglect.
There are a few things that I've learned this year, and would like to share. Hopefully we can also share laughs. Post your "lessons learned" from this year as well.
Some Items From My List:
1) Have an epi-pen handy
2.) Don't try to move your hives in un-laced tennis shoes at night (see #1)
3.) Have the right plan for moving two full hives from your home to another location
4.) Bees can come back and aren't happy when you move their hive (see #3). In fact, they get nasty with whomever is around the area, including neighbors
5.) If starting a new hive, and using built-out comb (say from a previous year's hive, or from a sister hive), expect the bees to be able to put that to use
much quicker than if they were starting from foundation only. Watch them closely than normal, else they will run out of room fast!
I hope this message finds you all well. I look forward to reading your "lessons learned" from this year.
Regards,
Scott