Another Laissez-Faire Beekeeping Season

I must start with a confession. I have become a bit of a laissez-faire beekeeper. This has been the result of trying to juggle a busy toddler, a pregnancy and every day responsibilities. Let’s just say, I am not confortable bringing Little Famer T to the apiary with me quite yet (gentle movements… not so much) and my bee suit won’t zip over this enormous belly anyway. I am thankful for my sister, Amy, holding down the ins-and-outs of beekeeping for me during my preoccupation.

Last winter was long, rainy, snowy and downright bitter and we experienced a lot of loss. We came into the spring season with just two hives, one of which was very weak. During the summer, we kept our hive numbers low and plan on spring 2014 as a rebuilding year with us purchasing package bees.

All that considered, we were able to maintain a single strong hive through the summer and harvested a single shallow super that equated to a little less than 25 pounds of honey or about 2 gallons.

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Oh Bees

This spring I decided to act on a interest in beekeeping and purchased two hives which are almost through their first spring and summer seasons and doing great. I would recommend this to everyone. There is a little start-up cost for hives, equipment, and bees, but little work and great rewards. Unfortunately, due to getting my bees hived so late in the season, no honey this year. However, next year I am looking forward to getting more hives and a lot of honey.